Photograph by Addison Doty. Copyright 2009 School for Advanced Research.
Water jar | K'yabokya de'ele
Date: 1880-1890
Artist or Maker: Unknown
Dimensions:
Dimensions: 25.4 × 38.7 cm (10 × 15 1/4 in.)
Weight: 4.2 kg (9.2 lb.)
Medium: clay | paints
Place Made:
Zuni Pueblo, McKinley County, New Mexico, Southwest, United States, North America
Object Number: IAF.2472
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”): This jar has good examples of native repairs. There are cracks that have been repaired with pine pitch, applied to both the inside and outside of the cracks. Older repairs are whitish and dull, while newer ones are dark and shiny. The jar was probably used as a water storage jar because there would be no need to repair thin cracks in a jar used to store dry foods, whereas water would leak from cracks if they were not repaired. Also, it clearly wasn’t used for warming food because the pitch would have melted. The convex portion of the base is the right size for carrying on the head.
The word for a water jar in Zuni is “k'yabokya,” which translates to “water container” 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:
The Pottery of Zuni Pueblo
- Pg. 153
- Fig. 8.13d
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.