Select Page

Collections

Collections Menu
Photograph by Addison Doty. Copyright 2014 School for Advanced Research.

Storage jar

Photograph by Addison Doty. Copyright 2014 School for Advanced Research.

Storage jar

Date: 1900-1910
Artist or Maker: Unknown
Dimensions:
35.6 x 48.3 cm (14 x 19 in.)
Medium: clay | paints
Credit Line: Indian Arts Fund purchase for the permanent collection, 1928.
Place Made:
Valencia County, New Mexico, Southwest, United States, North America
Object Number: IAF.956
Not on view
DescriptionAcoma polychrome storage jar; three-color; white slip with black painted decoration. The design has four large medallions, square and triangular motifs, with hatching used as fill-in. Red underbody and interior rim, flat base. Reinforced by two rawhide ties.
Tribal Collection Review RemarksAccording to the participants in the Acoma collection review visit November 29-30, and December 1, 2016 (Events Record “Collection Review: Acoma Pueblo Review 7”): This is a storage jar. The base is wide and flat, which is typical and good for a storage jar. The participants believe this jar is Acoma based on the materials and design, which appear to be Acoma. The clay’s color and texture looks like it was sourced at Acoma as opposed to the clay color and texture used at Laguna (darker course clay at Laguna). They also are not sure if Laguna made jars this size. There are no line breaks on this jar.

According to the participants in the Acoma collection review visit February 26-27, 2019 (Events Record “Collection Review: Acoma Pueblo Review 12”): Storage jars are constructed with thicker walls than water jars in order to support their size and the weight of the contents they would carry. The base of a storage jar is either round or flat. Storage jars were likely stored in cool places and stored items such as dried meats, crops from the garden, and other goods.

Storage jars are no longer being used or made at Acoma today. Jars that are made today that are comparable in size to that of a storage jar are usually made for sale and not for use.
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.