Photograph by Addison Doty. Copyright 2009 School for Advanced Research.
Bowl
Date: before 1926
Artist or Maker: Unknown
Dimensions:
Dimensions: 16 × 24 cm (6 5/16 × 9 7/16 in.)
Weight: 1.7 kg (3.7 lb.)
Medium: clay | paints
Place Made:
Zuni Pueblo, McKinley County, New Mexico, Southwest, United States, North America
Object Number: IAF.621
Not on view
Tribal Collection Review RemarksJim Enote and Octavius Seowtewa during collection review visit April 6 and 7, 2009 (Events Record “Collection Review: Zuni Tribe, Review 1”): This bowl is not ceremonial. It should remain classified as pseudo-ceremonial because it was made to resemble a ceremonial bowl, though it is not one. The terraced pieces on the shoulder do not make sense for a water bowl. Also, two of the four terraced appendages have holes in them; this would make it very unbalanced if the purpose was to hang the bowl. There are scratches on the outside of the bowl, but none on the inside, which is odd. The form of the bowl is not based on any typical Zuni ceramic form. While terraces, or step clouds, do appear on some Zuni ceramics, they would not normally be appended to the shoulder, as they are on this piece. The imagery of the toads and tadpoles used on it is traditional Zuni water-related iconography. It is alright to use this piece in publications, as long as it is made clear it is not actually ceremonial.
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.