Exterior.
Photograph by Addison Doty. Copyright 2009 School for Advanced Research.
Bowl
Date: before 1929
Artist or Maker: Unknown
Dimensions:
Dimensions: 16.2 × 31 cm (6 3/8 × 12 3/16 in.)
Weight: 1.6 kg (3.45 lb.)
Medium: clay | paints
Credit Line: Indian Arts Fund purchase for the permanent collection, 1929.
Place Made:
Zuni Pueblo, McKinley County, New Mexico, Southwest, United States, North America
Object Number: IAF.1280
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 is not a ceremonial bowl. It should remain classified as pseudo-ceremonial because it was made to resemble a ceremonial bowl, though it is not one. It is a bowl that was made to resemble a medicine water bowl, but it has several structural and decorative details that make it inappropriate for ceremonial use. A real water medicine bowl would not have a hip on it like this one does, just below the terraces. It also would not have the snake head added as an attachment to the bowl, since it would be easily broken off during use. The sculpted frog in the bottom of the bowl would impede removal of water with a ladle. The snake was intended to resemble a kolowisi, but the depiction on this bowl has a rattle; kolowisis are never depicted with rattles. The tadpole iconography is also incorrect because of the wide-open mouths, which would not appear this way on a true ceremonial water bowl. 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.