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Photograph by Peter Gabriel Studio. Copyright 2020-2021 Peter Gabriel Studio.
Water jar | K'yabokya de'ele
Date: c. 1720
Artist or Maker: Unknown
Dimensions:
Dimensions: H: 22.9 × Dia: 33 cm (H: 9 × Dia: 13 in.)
Weight: 1.9 kg (4.15 lb.)
Medium: clay | paints
Credit Line: Gift of Janet Lewis, 1922.
Place Made:
Zuni Pueblo, McKinley County, New Mexico, Southwest, United States, North America
Object Number: IAF.1
On view
at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Tribal Collection Review RemarksJim Enote and Octavius Seowtewa during collection review visit December 7 and 8, 2010 (Events Record “Collection Review: Zuni Tribe, Review 5”): This is a water jar. It has a very long neck and shoulder and a relatively small shoulder and body. There is an area of the neck that is oddly shaped, as though the clay began to slump a little under its own weight while it was still damp. There is some erosion on portions of the rim and neck. The neck designs include birds with crests, bird tails and wings, and also cloud designs. There is a black double line without a line break around the shoulder, separating the neck designs from the body designs. The surface of the body of the jar is small when compared to the surface area of the neck. It features wing and cloud designs in five design compartments. The designs in each compartment are different, which is unusual. A double line separates the body designs from the base. The base is a solid red. There is moderate wear on the base. Mr. Enote and Mr. Seowtewa agreed with Frank and Harlow’s 1974 comment that the jar shows a “baroque exuberance” because the designs are indeed quite busy. They also explained to IARC staff what the various design elements on the jar represented (bird wings, crests, feathers, clouds, etc.). See the annotated photos attached to this record for those explanations.
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)
Bibliography:
Santa Fe Indian Market
- Pg. 96
- Fig. N/A
Matte-Paint Pottery of the Tewa, Keres and Zuni Pueblos
- Pg. 260 (text); 261 (photograph)
- Fig. Plate 32, a
Historic Pueblo Indian Pottery
- Pg. 33
- Fig. 14b
The Pottery of Zuni Pueblo
- Pg. 109; 121
- Fig. 6.2; 7.5a
New Mexico Art Through Time
- Pg. 129
- Fig. 139
The Pottery of Zia Pueblo
- Pg. 40
- Fig. 3.10
A Peculiar Alchemy
- Pg. 138; 139
- Fig. N/A
Historic Pottery of the Pueblo Indians, 1600-1800
- Pg. between 128 and 129
- Fig. Plate XXVI
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.