San Ildefonso Polychrome Olla, c.1880

Item: SOPT5034
Material: ceramic and natural pigments
Size: 10" height x 11" diameter
Period: Historic
Origin: San Ildefonso Pueblo

This is a late 19th century San Ildefonso polychrome olla traditionally made and fired in natural clay and painted with mineral and vegetal pigments. The jar has a typical form with a round protruding mid body, tightly tapered base, and flared rim. The design is divided into two horizontal panels with floral motifs in the mid body and abstract capped feather motifs around the rim. The jar is stone polished and features a black painted rim and the secondary red band above the natural polished base. Some have posited that the use of red and black paint arose in 1880 as a way to compete with the Acoma potters that had gained so much fame with collectors. Acoma ceramics were often very colorful while at San Ildefonso prior to 1880 black on cream or polished black were the only styles made. This polychrome style was made for a relatively short period from 1880 to 1920 due to the discovery by Maria Martinez of the black on black technique which was immediately and widely adopted.

SOLD

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