Photograph by Addison Doty. Copyright 2010 School for Advanced Research.
Water jar | K'yabokya de'ele
Date: 1880-1890
Artist or Maker: Unknown
Dimensions:
Dimensions: 28 × 33 cm (11 × 13 in.)
Weight: 3.4 kg (7.55 lb.)
Medium: clay | paints
Credit Line: Indian Arts Fund purchase for the permanent collection, 1924.
Place Made:
Zuni Pueblo, McKinley County, New Mexico, Southwest, United States, North America
Object Number: IAF.182
Not on view
Tribal Collection Review RemarksOctavius Seowtewa during collection review visit Nov. 16 and 17, 2009 (Events Record “Collection Review: Zuni Tribe, Review 3”): This jar has “Zuni star” designs in the two vertical bars on the body of the jar and also in the decorative band between the shoulder and the rim. The four-sided Zuni star is a distinctive design that also appears on each medicine society altar, where they are meant to symbolize stars. Their presence on ceramics, however, does not give them a ceremonial purpose; they are merely decorative in this context. The jar has a distinct lip at the base, from where the piece rested on the puki when it was being made.
As per Jim Enote and Octavius Seowtewa during collection review visit Jan. 9 and 10, 2014 (Events Record “Collection Review: Zuni Tribe, Review 12”): The rim is black and has some minor wear. There is a thin single black line with no line break immediately beneath the rim. The neck is decorated with four four-sided stars surrounded by bird elements, such as wings, heads, bodies, and crests. The center of each star is filled with black cross-hatching lines. Two of the star centers are outlined in red, two in black. The third, outermost level of the star is black for all four. There is a thick double line with a line break between the neck and body decorations. The body is divided into two horizontal and two vertical design fields. The horizontal fields are divided into three bands. The upper and lower bands mirror each other and consist of bird elements including bird heads, crests, tails, and red rain lines. The middle band contains a row of five red birds with crests and black and white eyes. The first bird on the right (on both sides of the jar) has a different tail than the other four birds. The two vertical design fields contain a four-sided star at their centers. The central star is filled with black cross-hatching. It is outlined with red. The third, outermost level of the star is black. The star portion is surrounded by bird elements, including heads and tails that are filled with rain line hatching. There is a single thin line without a line break between the body and the base. The base is a solid dark brown with a concavity for carrying the jar on the head. The base has significant wear. There is also a Southwest Arts and Crafts label adhered to the bottom of the jar. The paints used on the jar appear to be a mixture of mineral (iron oxide or hematite) and vegetal (bee weed) paints.
The word for a water jar in Zuni is “k'yabokya de'ele,” which translates to “water container vessel” in English. The intended use for these jars was to store and carry water, but they could also be used to store other items.
In Collection(s)
Bibliography:
Pueblo Designs
- Pg. 47
- Fig. Plate XV, 3
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.