Exterior
Photograph by Addison Doty. Copyright 2010 School for Advanced Research.
Stew bowl | Wolaya sa'leh
Date: c. 1720
Artist or Maker: Unknown
Dimensions:
Dimensions: 15.2 × 33 cm (6 × 13 in.)
Weight: 1.9 kg (4.1 lb.)
Medium: clay | paints
Credit Line: Indian Arts Fund purchase for the permanent collection, 1923.
Place Made:
Zuni Pueblo, New Mexico, Southwest, United States, North America
Object Number: IAF.17
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 bowl would have been used for carrying stew to the kiva for ceremonial events.
As per Jim Enote and Octavius Seowtewa during collection review visit Jan. 9 and 10, 2014 (Events Record “Collection Review: Zuni Tribe, Review 12”): Exterior: The rim is painted red. Immediately below the rim is a thin black double line with a line break. The body is decorated with four design compartments that contain red and black bird head /wing/feather designs that are separated by a thin diagonal black line. In one of the design compartments, there is a diagonal black band with six white diamonds in it, located just below the thin diagonal black line. There is a thin black double line with a line break between the body designs and the base. The base is painted a solid red.
Interior: The interior is painted red with a large Z-shaped white design field. This design field is filled with bird elements that include heads with crests, tails, wings, feathers, and also stepped clouds. The middle portion of the design is no longer visible; perhaps the bowl held liquids for a long period of time, which could have caused the slip paint to erode away.
This is a type of ceremonial bowl that was used to carry food such as stews to the kiva for ceremonies. (Such bowls are rarely used now because of the possibility they may be broken while being handled.) When the food arrives at the kiva, it is poured into a larger communal bowl that will be eaten from in the kiva and then the bowl is returned to the owner. These bowls are often shared with other family members and can be passed down through generations. While this type of bowl is ceremonial in nature, it is not of a level of sacredness such that it needs to be kept from the general public. It has no access, publication, handling, or storage restrictions.
In Collection(s)
Bibliography:
Matte-Paint Pottery of the Tewa, Keres and Zuni Pueblos
- Pg. 260 (text); 262 (photograph)
- Fig. Plate 32, c
The Pottery of Zuni Pueblo
- Pg. 117
- Fig. 6.16
Historic Pottery of the Pueblo Indians, 1600-1800
- Pg. 140
- Fig. 143
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.