Photograph by Addison Doty. Copyright 2010 School for Advanced Research.
Water jar | K'yabokya de'ele
Date: 1890 - 1905
Artist or Maker: Unknown
Dimensions:
Dimensions: 24.2 × 30.5 cm (9 1/2 × 12 in.)
Weight: 2.5 kg (5.55 lb.)
Medium: clay | paints
Place Made:
Zuni Pueblo, McKinley County, New Mexico, Southwest, United States, North America
Object Number: IAF.1264
Not on view
Tribal Collection Review RemarksJim Enote and Octavius Seowtewa during collection review visit February 17 and 18, 2010 (Events Record “Collection Review: Zuni Tribe, Review 4”): No remarks for this jar.
As per Jim Enote and Octavius Seowtewa during collection review visit Nov. 30 and Dec. 1, 2011 (Events Record “Collection Review: Zuni Tribe, Review 7”): The rim is painted black. It has two large chips. There is a thin black line immediately below the rim. The neck designs consist of three compartments, all repeating the same design containing a bird head with an eye, a red crest, stepped feathers, primary feathers (wing tip feathers), and rain hatching with dots that may be hail/seeds/planting holes. A thick double line with a line break separates the neck from the body designs. The body designs consist of four repeated designs of a four-sided star with stepped clouds/feathers (which can also be seen as tails) filled with rain line hatching. In the center of these four-sided stars are two square-shaped spirals, or abstracted bird heads. Between the four-sided star designs are black bird tails and red crests. A single thin line with a line break separates the body designs from the base. The base is a solid dark brown. It has a normal sized concavity for carrying the jar on the head and shows little wear. The entire exterior of the jar is thinly covered with dirt, perhaps from a clay wash or maybe mud. A long crack extends from the base to the shoulder. It has been repaired with what looks like glue.
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)
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.