Acoma Polychrome Olla, c.1910

Item: BOPT5018C
Material: native clay and pigments
Size: 10" height + 10 1/2" diameter
Period: Historic
Origin: Acoma Pueblo

Pottery from the Pueblo of Acoma is by far the most well recognized and sought after by collectors and was a favorite of travelers to the Southwest at the end of the 19th century. This polychrome olla exhibits typical design characteristics of the period 1910 with a mixture of floral curvilinear motifs and strong geometric designs covering nearly the entire surface. The design is no longer split into horizontal bands as was the tradition of the 1880's and earlier, here only the red painted base remains. This evolution of design is likely a response to the interest and taste of collectors who were often purchasing directly from the potters at train stations and the Pueblo itself. While some might want to refer to this as tourist pottery it is important to note that the form including the indented base and the designs themselves remain basically unchanged from earlier utilitarian/ethnographic forms.

SOLD