Photograph by Addison Doty. Copyright 2010 School for Advanced Research.
Water jar | K'yabokya de'ele
Date: 1900 - 1915
Artist or Maker: Unknown
Dimensions:
Dimensions: 22.9 × 27.9 cm (9 × 11 in.)
Weight: 2.1 kg (4.65 lb.)
Medium: clay | paints
Place Made:
Zuni Pueblo, McKinley County, New Mexico, Southwest, United States, North America
Object Number: IAF.951
Not on view
Tribal Collection Review RemarksJim Enote and Octavius Seowtewa during collection review visit February 17 and 18, 2010 (Events Record “Collection Review: Zuni Tribe, Review 4”): The neck designs are feathers and other bird elements, and clouds. The body designs incorporate lightening, feathers and other bird elements, stepped clouds, and rain hatching. The lightning design is continuous (unbroken) all the way around the jar. The base is not very worn. The discoloration visible on the underbody of the jar could have been from salts and minerals that precipitated out of water stored in the jar, or it could have been a result of the firing process.
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)
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.