Photograph by Addison Doty. Copyright 2010 School for Advanced Research.
Water jar | K'yabokya de'ele
Date: c. 1880
Artist or Maker: Unknown
Dimensions:
Dimensions: 25.4 × 30.5 cm (10 × 12 in.)
Weight: 2.7 kg (5.9 lb.)
Medium: clay | paints
Credit Line: Gift of Arthur Seligman, 1924.
Place Made:
Zuni Pueblo, McKinley County, New Mexico, Southwest, United States, North America
Object Number: IAF.161
Not on view
Tribal Collection Review RemarksOctavius Seowtewa during collection review visit Nov. 16 and 17, 2009 (Events Record “Collection Review: Zuni Tribe, Review 3”): This jar received heavy use, as can be seen from the wear on the base and around the rim. The deer are enclosed in a cloud design rather than a house arch made of bird elements, and the deer change size throughout the piece, with some larger than others. The rim design includes a band of seven birds inside of four-sided stars.
As per Jim Enote and Octavius Seowtewa during collection review visit Jan. 9 and 10, 2014 (Events Record “Collection Review: Zuni Tribe, Review 12”): The rim was painted black, though most of the paint is now eroded or chipped away. The neck decoration is divided into seven compartments that contain black four-sided stars, surrounded by rain line hatching with seeds/hail/planting holes. Inside each star is a bird. There is a black triple line (the middle line is thick) with a line break between the neck and body designs. The body designs are divided into two design bands. Both bands feature five male deer with heartlines inside of step cloud frames. The areas between the step cloud frames are filled with rain line hatching with seeds/hail/planting holes. The upper and lower bands are very similar, except the deer on the top row are slightly larger than the ones in the lower band and the deer in the bottom row are offset from the ones above. Also, in the top band, each deer’s front hooves stand on a red triangle that is a bird crest; in the lower band, there is no red crest and each deer has one foot stepping down into the space at the bottom of the step cloud frame. The two bands are separated by a black triple line (the middle line is thick) like the one that separates the neck from the body designs. There is a thin black line between the body designs and the base; because of damage to the slip, it’s not possible to see if it had a line break. The base is a solid dark brown with moderate wear and some spalling. There are areas of extensive slip loss on portions of the jar near the base.
The word for a water jar in Zuni is “k'yabokya de'ele,” which translates to “water container vessel” in English. The intended use for these jars was to store and carry water, but they could also be used to store other items.
In Collection(s)
The Indian Arts Research Center, in collaboration with Native American community scholars, strives to present accurate collections records. Records may be updated as new information becomes available and is reviewed with the Native American community having cultural affinity to particular items. Please write to iarc@sarsf.org if you have questions or concerns related to the documentation.