Photograph by Addison Doty. Copyright 2010 School for Advanced Research.
Water jar | K'yabokya de'ele
Date: c. 1900
Artist or Maker: Unknown
Dimensions:
Dimensions: 24.2 × 30.5 cm (9 1/2 × 12 in.)
Weight: 2.8 kg (6.1 lb.)
Medium: clay | paints
Place Made:
Zuni Pueblo, McKinley County, New Mexico, Southwest, United States, North America
Object Number: IAF.1417
Not on view
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 entire jar is painted black-on-white, with no red paint. The rim of has significant erosion and some chipping. The rim is painted black. There is a thin, single line below the rim (above the neck designs) with a line break. The neck designs are of bird wings and clouds with rain hatching. A border line, with a break, separates the neck from the body. Immediately below the border line is a water wave line, with no break. The body designs consist of bird heads with crests, wings, tails, and step clouds with rain hatching. The spacing of the design elements around the body of the jar is somewhat uneven; however, the spacing of the lines used in the rain hatching is very even. There is no break visible in the border line between the body and the base (though because of damage to the paint, it’s possible that it was simply obscured). The base is the same color as the paint used to decorate the rest of the jar. The base shows normal wear, some efflorescence, and has some mud or clay adhered to it.
The word for a water jar in Zuni is “k'yabokya,” which translates to “water container” 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.