Photograph by Addison Doty. Copyright 2010 School for Advanced Research.
Water jar | K'yabokya de'ele
Date: c. 1900
Artist or Maker: Unknown
Dimensions:
Dimensions: 22.9 × 27.9 cm (9 × 11 in.)
Weight: 2.3 kg (5 lb.)
Medium: clay | paints
Credit Line: Indian Arts Fund purchase for the permanent collection.
Place Made:
Zuni Pueblo, McKinley County, New Mexico, Southwest, United States, North America
Object Number: IAF.607
Not on view
Tribal Collection Review RemarksJim Enote and Octavius Seowtewa during collection review visit February 17 and 18, 2010 (Events Record “Collection Review: Zuni Tribe, Review 4”): No remarks for this jar.
As per Jim Enote and Octavius Seowtewa during collection review visit Nov. 30 and Dec. 1, 2011 (Events Record “Collection Review: Zuni Tribe, Review 7”): The rim paint is eroded on the exterior, but the black paint is still visible on the interior rim. The neck is decorated with bird wing designs with rain lines (some black, some red, some both black and red), and bird crests and bird tails that are attached to the wings. The body has six panels, painted in black and red. They include stepped cloud designs and red birds. The stepped clouds contain red rain lines. The body and base are separated by a thin black line. The base is a solid dark brown. It is concave. There is a crack in the base that has been repaired with pitch, possibly piñon pitch. The crack does not go all the way through the wall of the vessel. There is a hair stuck in the pitch.
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)
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.