Large Polychrome Pueblo Olla, circa 1910

Large antique Zia Pueblo polychrome olla, circa 1910. Hand-coiled earthenware with cream and red-brown slips and polychrome painted decoration. The vessel has a rounded body with a slightly constricted neck and broad opening, creating a strong, balanced profile.
The exterior is decorated with an intricate geometric composition in red-brown and dark brown against the cream-slipped ground. Repeating stepped, angular, and arching motifs encircle the vessel in horizontal bands, creating a rhythmic design that emphasizes the broad form of the olla.
The lower portion and interior are finished in a warm red-brown slip, while fine dark lines frame and define the principal decorative fields. With its substantial scale, classic proportions, and bold polychrome design, this olla is a striking example of early 20th-century Zia Pueblo pottery.

Provenance:
David Cook Galleries, Denver, Colorado
Private Collection, Edwards, Colorado, 2003