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Photograph by Addison Doty. Copyright 2014 School for Advanced Research. Photograph by Addison Doty. Copyright 2014 School for Advanced Research.

Water jar

Photograph by Addison Doty. Copyright 2014 School for Advanced Research.
Photograph by Addison Doty. Copyright 2014 School for Advanced Research.

Water jar

Date: c. 1900
Artist or Maker: Unknown
Dimensions:
Dimensions: 17.8 × 17.8 cm (7 × 7 in.)
Weight: 0.7 kg (1.6 lb.)
Medium: clay | paints
Credit Line: Indian Arts Fund purchase for the permanent collection, 1927.
Place Made:
Valencia, Cibola, Bernalillo, and Sandoval Counties, New Mexico, Southwest, United States, North America
Object Number: IAF.692
Not on view
DescriptionAcoma polychrome water jar; three-color; white slip with black and red painted decoration. The design consists of two bands of design, the neck and the body, separated by a thick dark orange band at the shoulder. The neck band has repeating panels of triangular motifs with hatching (rain lines) and the body band has large repeating black split connected triangles with dots. Dark (red) underbody, red slipped interior neck, and concave base. Tall-necked form.
Tribal Collection Review RemarksAccording to the participants in the Acoma collection review visit June 26-27, 2017 (Events Record “Collection Review: Acoma Pueblo Review 9”): The inside of this jar wasn’t completely smoothed out. The coils can be felt on the interior still. 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”): 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.