Photograph by Addison Doty. Copyright 2008 School for Advanced Research.
Seed jar
Date: c. 1980
Artist or Maker: Grace Chino (1929-1994)
Dimensions:
Dimensions: 22.9 × 22.9 cm (9 × 9 in.)
Weight: 1.5 kg (3.2 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.1994-4-556
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 is a three-color polychrome seed jar. The artist, Grace Chino, is deceased. The roughness on the surface is due to heavy use of pottery sherds as a temper. The design includes rain lines (hachuring), lightning (negative zigzag space) and the sun (orange).
According to the participants in the Acoma collection review visit February 26-27, 2019 (Events Record “Collection Review: Acoma Pueblo Review 12”): Seed jars are used for storing items like seeds, vegetables, and fruits, or smaller items such as beans, plants and pine nuts. They were often sealed to preserve what they were storing. Seed jar forms are still being made and used today at Acoma. They are characterized by having a flatter shoulder area coming to a circular opening at the center. Like all forms being produced today, they are produced and painted with both traditional natural and commercial materials. Older seed jar forms tend to have a lower half that looks similar to a water jar or bowl shape. More recent seed jar forms tend to be spherical or saucer like in shape and medium to small in size.
In Collection(s)
Bibliography:
The Pottery of Acoma Pueblo
- Pg. 413
- Fig. 25.14
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.