Photograph by Addison Doty. Copyright 2010 School for Advanced Research.
Water jar | K'yabokya de'ele
Date: c. 1890-1900
Artist or Maker: Unknown
Dimensions:
22.9 x 13 cm (9 x 5 1/8 in.)
Medium: clay | paints
Credit Line: Gift of Elizabeth S. Sergeant, 1922.
Place Made:
Zuni Pueblo, McKinley County, New Mexico, Southwest, United States, North America
Object Number: IAF.10
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 "Zuni Star" design has a depiction of an eye in its center. The deer have their mouths open and prominent knees. The "Greek key"-like scroll design around the rim and shoulder is unusual. Mr. Seowtewa said he has not previously seen a Zuni ceramic with this design.
As per Jim Enote and Octavius Seowtewa during collection review visit Jan. 9 and 10, 2014 (Events Record “Collection Review: Zuni Tribe, Review 12”):The rim is quite eroded and no paint is left. The wear on the rim could be from placing a lid on the jar, in addition to erosion from its use as a water jar. The neck is decorated with red feather/wing designs and black “Greek key”-like scroll designs. The black designs are separated into short segments though, not continuous like a standard Greek key design. The neck and body designs are separated by a thick double black line with a line break. Slightly larger versions of the short “Greek key”-like designs are located just below the double line, and above the rest of the designs on the body portion of the jar. The body is decorated with two pairs of black deer with red heartlines, red bird heads with crests which are combined with bird wings, and also bird crests on their own. Above the base there is a thin double black line without a line break. The base is a solid dark brown. The base shows moderate wear.
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:
Pueblo Designs
- Pg. 49
- Fig. Plate XVI, 4
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.