Photograph by Addison Doty. Copyright 2011 School for Advanced Research.
Seed jar
Date: 1925-1926
Artist or Maker: Unknown
Dimensions:
Dimensions: 15.2 × 24.1 cm (6 × 9 1/2 in.)
Weight: 1.3 kg (2.8 lb.)
Medium: clay | paints
Credit Line: Indian Arts Fund purchase for the permanent collection, 1926.
Place Made:
Valencia County, New Mexico, Southwest, United States, North America
Object Number: IAF.656
Not on view
Tribal Collection Review RemarksAccording to the participants in the Acoma collection review visit June 3-5, 2015 (Events Record “Collection Review: Acoma Pueblo, Review 2”): The participants agree this is seed jar form and can also be similar to a fruit bowl. Not much more was said about this jar.
According to the participants in the Acoma collection review visit February 26-27, 2019 (Events Record “Collection Review: Acoma Pueblo Review 12”: There may have been some orange slip specs in the clay that came through in the firing. This can be seen in the areas where the clay body is exposed. There are two different red slips used on this seed jar. The red slip used in the design is darker than the red slip used on the base.
Seed jars are used for storing items like seeds from vegetables and fruits, or smaller items such as beans, plants, and pine nuts. They were often sealed to preserve what they were storing. Seed jar forms are still being made and used today at Acoma. They are characterized by having a flatter shoulder area, coming to a circular opening at the center. Like all forms being produced today, they are produced and painted with both traditional natural and commercial materials. Older seed jar forms tend to have a lower half that looks similar to a water jar or bowl shape. More recent seed jar forms tend to be spherical or saucer-like in shape and medium to small in size.
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.