Photograph by Addison Doty. Copyright 2010 School for Advanced Research.
Water jar | K'yabokya de'ele
Date: c. 1915
Artist or Maker: Unknown
Dimensions:
Dimensions: 25.4 × 34.3 cm (10 × 13 1/2 in.)
Weight: 2.5 kg (5.45 lb.)
Medium: clay | paints
Credit Line: Indian Arts Fund purchase for the permanent collection.
Place Made:
Zuni Pueblo, McKinley County, Southwest, Southwest, United States, North America
Object Number: IAF.248
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”): The main design for this jar is an upside-down bird or bat motif. There are three birds or bats spaced around the jar. The jar does not have an independent decorative band around the neck, which is somewhat unusual; rather, the bird or bat design extends all the way from the body of the jar up to the rim.
Except for the four IARC bird/bat design jars (this jar, IAF.250, SAR.1978-1-30, and SAR.1978-1-145), Mr. Seowtewa has only seen one other jar with this design, in a collection at either the Denver Art Museum or at Mesa Verde. The Zuni word for “bat” is ah-sho-tse. Stories featuring bats are only told during the winter at Zuni. Zuni children are told that snakes, which are summer animals, will come bite them if they tell stories, like bat, owl, or raven stories, at the wrong time of year.
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)
Bibliography:
The Pottery of Zuni Pueblo
- Pg. 438
- Fig. 32.20
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.