Photograph by Addison Doty. Copyright 2014 School for Advanced Research.
Water jar
Date: 1875-1880
Artist or Maker: Unknown
Dimensions:
27.3 x 30.5 cm (10 3/4 x 12 in.)
Medium: clay | paints
Credit Line: Gift of an anonymous donor, 1955.
Place Made:
Valencia, Cibola, Bernalillo, and Sandoval Counties, New Mexico, Southwest, United States, North America
Object Number: IAF.2507
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”): The area where the body meets the base is very pronounced. There is a sherd adhered to the base of the jar with pitch and a dark pitch on the interior in the same location. This patch appears to have been placed to plug that hole. The base is very narrow. There are three lines breaks on this jar, one at the rim, shoulder, and base.
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)
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.