Photograph by Addison Doty. Copyright 2010 School for Advanced Research.
Water jar | K'yabokya de'ele
Date: before 1929
Artist or Maker: Unknown
Dimensions:
Dimensions: 16.5 × 25.5 cm (6 1/2 × 10 1/16 in.)
Weight: 1.5 kg (3.25 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.1278
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 apparently sold as a ceremonial jar, though it is not one. Though a note in the IAF catalog entry for this bowl indicates that it was part of the “Heart of the World,” group (along with IAF.981, IAF.1276, IAF.1277, IAF.1281, IAF.1282, and IAF.1283), this is extremely unlikely. There is a Heart of the World at Zuni, but currently there are only two people at Zuni who know what it consists of. The tadpoles do not follow Zuni conventions for this motif because they are very large, have wide-open mouths, and larges eyes almost like whales. There is paint on the interior of the jar, which would have worn off if it had really been used as a water jar. The base is very smooth and flat; it was purposely sanded down to make it look old. This piece is okay for research and publication as long as it is made clear that it is not 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.