Photograph by Addison Doty. Copyright 2010 School for Advanced Research.
Water jar | K'yabokya de'ele
Date: c. 1850
Artist or Maker: Unknown
Dimensions:
21.6 x 27.9 cm (8 1/2 x 11 in.)
Medium: clay | paints
Place Made:
Zuni Pueblo, McKinley County, New Mexico, Southwest, United States, North America
Object Number: IAF.786
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. Immediately below the rim is a double line with a line break. The neck is decorated with five repeating black and white checkerboard designs that may represent waffle gardens. The checkerboard designs alternate with white trapezoidal designs that represent bird tails. The neck and shoulder designs are separated by a double line with a line break. The body is decorated with four circles with tail designs inside of them, radiating out from the center. Each circle is surrounded by four triangle designs with rain hatching lines inside them. They may represent bird crests. The circle/triangle design combination could also be seen as a variation of the four-sided star. The long, narrow trapezoids filled with rain hatching that extend horizontally from each circle and end in small hooks are bird heads. A thin line separates the body designs from the base. The base is dark brown and shows some wear. It has a normal-sized concavity for carrying the jar on the head.
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)
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