Photograph by Addison Doty. Copyright 2009 School for Advanced Research.
Storage jar
Date: 1920s
Artist or Maker: Unknown
Dimensions:
Dimensions: 16.2 × 25.5 cm (6 3/8 × 10 1/16 in.)
Weight: 1.5 kg (3.3 lb.)
Medium: clay | paints | stone | shell | turquoise | cornmeal
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.1228
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 jar is not ceremonial (see further in this note for information about the stone concretions that were stored inside the jar). It should remain classified as pseudo-ceremonial because it was apparently sold as a ceremonial jar, though it is not one. This jar is Zuni in form, but the decorative motifs and the cut out section in the rim are not characteristic of Zuni ceramics. The base of the jar was sanded down to make it look very worn. The jar contains three stones (concretions), one snail shell (fossil), turquoise fragments, ground shell, and fine corn meal. These are materials that are used in ceremonial offerings, but if these really had been used in ceremony, they would not be presented in this combination. While stone concretions used in ceremony are considered sacred items, the ones included in this offering were probably not really used in ceremony. If they had been used in ceremony there would be more of them, not just three. The offering materials were probably added by the seller to enhance the jar's market appeal. Mr. Enote and Mr. Seowtewa explained that the offering materials are okay to research, photograph, and publish. It is also alright to use the jar 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.