Photograph by Addison Doty. Copyright 2010 School for Advanced Research.
Water jar | K'yabokya de'ele
Date: c. 1880
Artist or Maker: Unknown
Dimensions:
Dimensions: 25.4 × 29.2 cm (10 × 11 1/2 in.)
Weight: 2.9 kg (6.5 lb.)
Medium: clay | paints
Credit Line: Gift of H. P. Mera.
Place Made:
Zuni Pueblo, McKinley County, New Mexico, Southwest, United States, North America
Object Number: IAF.603
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”): The birds on the jar appear to represent roadrunners because of the crests on their heads and their long tail feathers. The jar was probably not artificially antiqued; rather it may have been used on or near a fire. It has marks and discoloration around the base that could indicate use very near a fire. The style of the birds’ eyes is similar to the eyes on the birds that decorate jar IAF.1363.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Jim Enote and Octavius Seowtewa during collection review visit January 9 and 10, 2014 (Events Record “Collection Review: Zuni Tribe, Review 12”): The rim is painted black. There is a thin black line with no rim break immediately below the rim. The neck design consists of a bird feather, wing, and crest design that repeats six times. The wings are filled with rain line hatching and the crests are filled with dots.
A black thick double line with a line break on the shoulder of the jar separates the neck designs from the body designs. The body contains two horizontal design panels, with no vertical panels. The top band contains four stepped clouds filled with rain lines and seed/hail/planting spots alternating with four rounded bird tails, also filled with rain lines and seed/hail/planting spots. There are eight birds, facing right, interspersed between the step clouds and tails. Seven of the birds have a crest and one does not. There is a thick black line with no line break between the upper and lower horizontal panels. The lower band contains six compartments with red and black feather designs. There is a thin black line with no line break separating the body from the base.
The base is painted a solid dark brown and it has a concavity for carrying the jar on the head. The wear on the base is very even. There jar has four cracks that have been repaired. There is a green line of chalk or paint on the interior of the jar.
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:
The Pottery of Zuni Pueblo
- Pg. 252
- Fig. 17.9
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.