Photograph by Addison Doty. Copyright 2010 School for Advanced Research.
Water jar | K'yabokya de'ele
Date: c. 1890
Artist or Maker: Unknown
Dimensions:
Dimensions: 22.9 × 30.5 cm (9 × 12 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.1323
Not on view
Tribal Collection Review RemarksJim Enote and Octavius Seowtewa during collection review visit December 7 and 8, 2010 (Events Record “Collection Review: Zuni Tribe, Review 5”): The rim of the jar is in good condition and is painted black. The line around the rim (above the neck designs) has a break. The neck designs consist of bird designs that repeat four times. The design is a bird head with an eye and crests, tail feathers, wings, and dots representing hail/seeds/planting holes. On the shoulder of jar, between the neck and the body, there is a double line with a break. The body has four houses (design panels) with bird designs that consist mainly of wings and tails, and also clouds with rain hatching. The body designs also include dots representing hail/seeds/planting holes. Between the body and the base, there is a single line with a break. The base is black and shows moderate wear. There is a penciled note on the bottom that reads “Babbit Brothers $10.00.” Another penciled note on the body of jar reads “Old Zuni [something illegible] $15.00.”
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)
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.