Photograph by Peter Gabriel Studio. Copyright 2020-2021 Peter Gabriel Studio.
Water jar
Date: c. 1985
Artist or Maker: Carrie (Chino) Charlie
Dimensions:
Dimensions: H: 21.6 × Dia: 26.7 cm (H: 8 1/2 × Dia: 10 1/2 in.)
Weight: 1.5 kg (3.35 lb.)
Medium: clay | paints
Credit Line: Bequest of James Richard (Rick) Dillingham, II; received at IARC in 1994.
Place Made:
Valencia County, New Mexico, Southwest, United States, North America
Object Number: SAR.1994-4-597
On view
at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Tribal Collection Review RemarksAccording to the participants in the Acoma collection review visit September 4, 2015 (Events Record “Collection Review: Acoma Pueblo, Review 3”): Carrie (Chino) Charlie is the daughter of Marie Z. Chino. The clay has a slight pinkish tint to it. This clay came from an older mine that has since closed. The clay from Acoma usually fires white but will sometimes come out in a gray or pink tint depending on the area the clay was mined. The black paint on this jar is more on the brown side of the black paints.
There was some discussion on the black paint rocks. At Acoma bee weed is used as a binder for the black paint and is always added to the black paint for it to stick to the pot. If the black paint flakes off there was too much bee weed added. If the black paint rubs off then not enough bee weed was added. The black paint rocks today vary from brownish red, brown, dark brown, to black.
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:
Fourteen Families in Pueblo Pottery
- Pg. 87
- Fig. N/A
Acoma and Laguna Pottery
- Pg. 177
- Fig. 7.2
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.