Photograph by Addison Doty. Copyright 2010 School for Advanced Research.
Jar
Date: 1900-1915
Artist or Maker: Unknown
Dimensions:
Dimensions: 16.5 × 16.5 cm (6 1/2 × 6 1/2 in.)
Weight: 0.8 kg (1.8 lb.)
Medium: clay | paints
Credit Line: Gift of Kenneth M. Chapman, 1924.
Place Made:
Zuni Pueblo, McKinley County, New Mexico, Southwest, United States, North America
Object Number: IAF.284
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”): While the form of this piece is somewhat unusual, the designs on it are Zuni. The mini-rosettes and stepped clouds are Zuni. The small round protrusions on the shoulder (bosses) do not have any particular meaning; they are simply decorative elements. Notes in the Old Catalog indicate that this piece was excavated in San Juan County, about 1915. Mr. Seowtewa’s opinion was that if it was excavated there is a possibility that it was a burial item, but it does not have the hole in the bottom of the vessel that one would expect if it were intended for use in a burial. His opinion was that it was more likely an item of daily use, probably for storing food. He also felt that the time period of circa 1890 listed in the records was likely correct.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Jim Enote and Octavius Seowtewa during collection review visit January 9 and 10, 2014 (Events Record “Collection Review: Zuni Tribe, Review 12”): The form of this jar is more generally rounded than a water jar, without a clearly defined neck. The white slip used on the jar is slightly pinkish. The rim is painted black. There is a thin black line immediately below the rim, but it is too damaged to determine if it had a line break. The design below the rim is a continuous band of connected wing/stepped cloud/feather designs. Below the design band is a line of rounded bumps, referred to elsewhere in the record as “bosses.” The point of each is painted with a black dot.
The body decoration consists of just one continuous design panel, with no vertical compartments. The design is a square compartment containing three diagonally arranged flowers (two red and a black one in the middle) framed at two corners with wing/stepped cloud designs with rain line hatching and seed/hail/planting hole dots.
The base is white, flat, and shows very minor wear. Despite the unusual form and the pinkish color of the slip, the designs are typical Zuni designs for the time period. Mr. Seowtewa explained that there are Zuni ancestral sites in San Juan County, New Mexico.
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.