Photograph by Addison Doty. Copyright 2011 School for Advanced Research.
Storage jar
Date: 1910-1925
Artist or Maker: Unknown
Dimensions:
Dimensions: 35.6 × 45.7 cm (14 × 18 in.)
Weight: 5.5 kg (12.05 lb.)
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.1149
Not on view
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 bird within the design is a double headed thunderbird. There are no line breaks on this jar.
Rick Dillingham suggested that because this jar is similar to IAF.1206 it may have the same maker, Marie Cimmerone. The participants did not know who she was so they did not state if they also thought she made this jar.
According to the participants in the Acoma collection review visit February 26-27, 2019 (Events Record “Collection Review: Acoma Pueblo Review 12”): Thunder birds, like other bird painted on Acoma jars, vary from artist to artist in style and are symbolic of rain.
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)
Bibliography:
Matte-Paint Pottery of the Tewa, Keres and Zuni Pueblos
- Pg. 177 (text); 179 (photograph)
- Fig. Plate 10, c
The Pottery of Acoma Pueblo
- Pg. 309
- Fig. 18.11
Lucy M. Lewis
- Pg. 118 (detail); 119
- Fig. Plates 150-152
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.