Photograph by Addison Doty. Copyright 2011 School for Advanced Research.
Water jar
Date: 1900-1920
Artist or Maker: Unknown
Dimensions:
Dimensions: 30.5 × 34.3 cm (12 × 13 1/2 in.)
Weight: 2.9 kg (6.3 lb.)
Medium: clay | paints
Credit Line: Indian Arts Fund purchase for the permanent collection, 1924.
Place Made:
Valencia County, New Mexico, Southwest, United States, North America
Object Number: IAF.180
Not on view
Tribal Collection Review RemarksAccording to the participants in the Acoma collection review visit February 17-19, 2016 (Events Record “Collection Review: Acoma Pueblo, Review 5”): This jar was well constructed. The bird on this design in unusual. It is not a parrot but could possibly be some type of rain bird or road runner. The head, legs, and feet of the bird are not similar to how birds are usually designed. The double dots or circles at the center of the bird are the heart of the bird. There is a rainbow band that goes around the jar with a lot of rain and cloud imagery around it. There are three panels to this design. The interpretation of the design on this pot could be endless because of the arrangement of the various motifs. However the overall concept is of rain and clouds. It was speculated that the orange may have come from the reddish clay and not the orange slip. The interior red slip may have darkened due to conservation efforts.
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.