Photograph by Addison Doty. Copyright 2010 School for Advanced Research.
Water jar | K'yabokya de'ele
Date: 1850-1920
Artist or Maker: Unknown
Dimensions:
Dimensions: 25.4 × 29.2 cm (10 × 11 1/2 in.)
Weight: 2.3 kg (5 lb.)
Medium: clay | paints
Credit Line: Indian Arts Fund purchase for the permanent collection, 1924.
Place Made:
Zuni Pueblo, McKinley County, New Mexico, Southwest, United States, North America
Object Number: IAF.164
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 birds on this jar are very similar to birds that appear on approximately eight other jars in the collection (IAF.9, IAF.315, IAF.952, IAF.2403B, IAF.2472, IAF.2804, IAF.2805, SAR.1979-6-3). Each family had a hallmark bird design and it should be possible to identify which family made certain pieces by the bird designs on them.
As per Jim Enote and Octavius Seowtewa during collection review visit Jan. 9 and 10, 2014 (Events Record “Collection Review: Zuni Tribe, Review 12”): The rim is black, with some wear and chipping, mostly on one side. This may have been from using a lid on top of the jar or from erosion that resulted from its use as a water jar. There is a thin black line below the rim, but due to the erosion of the slip, it’s not possible to see if there was a line break. The neck is decorated with four compartments, which contain two designs that mirror each other on either side of the jar. One of the designs is of abstracted bird elements including a bird head/body, wing, and tail, with black cross-hatching and red rain line hatching. The other design is of mirrored triangular clouds with red rain lines and three-pronged crests inside of them. There is a thick black double line with a line break between the neck and body decorations. The body is decorated with three flower/rosette designs and three panels that each feature two deer and two birds. Two of the flowers/rosettes have eleven petals, while one has just 10 petals. The deer/bird panels are divided into three levels. The upper and lower levels each have a deer with a heartline located inside a house arch made of bird elements, such as bird heads and wings. Between the upper and lower levels, the middle one contains two stylized red birds with black and white eyes. Some of the birds have black legs. There is a thin black line without a line break between the body and base. The base is solid dark brown and has moderate wear, with a concavity for carrying the jar on the head. There is some writing in red pencil or crayon on the base, which may be a dealer’s mark. It reads: “13….” (The number is illegible after the “13.”)
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. 146
- Fig. 8.6c
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.