Native American Pottery

C1940 Exceptional Acoma Olla Native American Indian Art Pottery

C1940 Exceptional Acoma Olla Native American Indian Art Pottery
C1940 Exceptional Acoma Olla Native American Indian Art Pottery
C1940 Exceptional Acoma Olla Native American Indian Art Pottery
C1940 Exceptional Acoma Olla Native American Indian Art Pottery
C1940 Exceptional Acoma Olla Native American Indian Art Pottery
C1940 Exceptional Acoma Olla Native American Indian Art Pottery

C1940 Exceptional Acoma Olla Native American Indian Art Pottery

Williams Gallery West - Native American Art and Artifacts - tools, pottery, baskets. From a second generation family collection.

Dimensions: approx 8" diameter x 7" deep. Polychrome pottery olla (water jar). Well balanced and skillfully painted with traditional designs.

Painted in black and rusty orange over a white slip background. High shoulders and concave base. Typical, slightly gritty surface from the inclusion of ground pottery shards in the clay.

Also a faint pinkish tone to the clay, also typical of fine. Another interesting note, upon close inspection of the interior there are scattered small intentional vertical marks, probably from the artist putting the final touches to the shape of the form. Light wear from age and display. Please note a few subtle condition issues. Small area of paint loss, approx 1/8 visible in photo #2.

Small scratch on body, about 3/4 inch, NOT a crack, visible in photo #4. One shallow spalted spot on bottom, not a chip, also visible in photos. Very fine crazing visible on close inspection, typical of a pot this age. This pot has been in the same family for two generations. Can be recognized by its fluted rims, thin walls and complex geometric designs. Clay is collected locally, often from jealously guarded sources, then formed and decorated by hand.

Early ollas (water jars) had indented bottoms to make them easier to carry on the bearer's head. Pieces are molded and kiln fired. Traditional works tend to be thinner, lighter, slightly asymmetrical, and have a slightly coarse surface. The colors of contemporary pots tend to be more consistent and vivid. Pottery created before 1950 is usually unsigned.

THe most famous of the Acoma potters are the Lewis and the. Lucy Lewis and Marie Chino are considered by most to be the matriarchs of 20th century.

Traditional designs include highly abstract rainbows, feathers, parrots, deer, and geometric motifs. And black are traditional colors.

Abstract patterns can symbolize the cycle of life, water, sky and rain, as well as lightning, thunder clouds and mountains. Acoma pottery was originally functional, used for storage, cooking and serving food.

Other pots were used to store seeds and other foodstuffs. By the mid 1930s many pots were being created for the decorative market, due to the growing interest in Western tourism and Native American traditions. The item "C1940 Exceptional Acoma Olla Native American Indian Art Pottery" is in sale since Thursday, December 17, 2015. This item is in the category "Collectibles\Cultures & Ethnicities\Native American\ US\1935-Now\Pottery". The seller is "galw001" and is located in Oakhurst, California.

This item can be shipped worldwide.
  • Country/Region of Manufacture: United States
  • Artisan: Unknown
  • Origin: Acoma Pueblo Arizona
  • Tribal Affiliation: Acoma

C1940 Exceptional Acoma Olla Native American Indian Art Pottery