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Photograph by Addison Doty. Copyright 2011 School for Advanced Research.

Water jar

Photograph by Addison Doty. Copyright 2011 School for Advanced Research.

Water jar

Date: 1900-1920
Artist or Maker: Unknown
Dimensions:
Dimension: 29.2 × 35.6 cm (11 1/2 × 14 in.)
Weight: 2.4 kg (5.25 lb.)
Medium: clay | paints
Credit Line: Gift of Mrs. Olivia Pope, 1924.
Place Made:
Valencia County, New Mexico, Southwest, United States, North America
Object Number: IAF.125
Not on view
DescriptionAcoma polychrome water jar, four-color; white slip with black, red, and orange painted decoration. The design consists of an all over design with birds, hatching (rain lines) and filled curvilinear and geometric designs. There are two panels of designs. Each has a large bold black rectangle with inner squares of orange and red with checkerboard eyes and a cloud or mountain pattern in the center. There is a small band of three pathway symbols that separates the orange and red squares. Extending off the rectangle are pillars of alternating red and orange that are depicting sun/sunlight leading to a scroll of leaf-like motifs with rain lines, clouds, and checkerboard eyes. There are birds on the interior of the scrolls, one orange and the other red on the opposite side. On the other ends of the rectangle are half circle motifs with clouds, hatching (rain lines), and leaf motifs ending with orange and red birds. Red underbody and interior rim, concave base.
Tribal Collection Review RemarksAccording to the participants in the Acoma collection review visit April 22-24, 2015 (Events Record “Collection Review: Acoma Pueblo, Review 1”): The design is very full and is well executed. It has checkerboard eyes, sun/sunrays in red and orange, rain lines, and leaves. The birds are not in the usual Acoma style conventions. Typical birds on Acoma pottery will have a square or diamond in the chest and not a circle which these birds have. There is a pathway break below the rim.

There is a hole on the side of this jar which is most likely a result of the jar being thin in that area or a pop off that happened during the firing or after. Holes on Acoma pottery do not have any particular cultural or ceremonial meaning/significance.

According to the participants in the Acoma collection review visit February 26-27, 2019 (Events Record “Collection Review: Acoma Pueblo Review 12”): The shape of a water jar is characterized by usually having a concave base (can also have a flat base) leading to a wider body and shoulder area. The shoulder, which is typically rounded but can also be sharp, leads inward and up to the neck and opening of the water jar. Historic water jars will sometimes have an indentation from the base the pot was built on (also known as a puki).

Water jars of all sizes are made and used. Medium to small size water jars are more commonly used to carry water as the weight of a filled water jar can become quite heavy. Large sized water jars would be used for storing water. Today at Acoma, water jars are still being used and made in both traditional natural and commercial materials.

In Collection(s)
Bibliography:
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.