5224-1808 Historic Era Zuni Olla Pottery
ca. 1890
Size 8.75"H x 11" D
Polychrome Hand Coiled Clay Pictorial Olla with Painted Red, Blue, Black and White Colors with a Deer in the House Motifs and Geometric Designs
Excellent Condition and Culturally used as desirable ladle wear at rim shows usage with no cracks and no restoration.
Historic Era Zuni olla pottery is a traditional water jars (ollas) crafted by potters from Zuni Pueblo in western New Mexico, primarily during the late 19th to early 20th centuries. These vessels were essential for carrying and storing water, often balanced on the heads of women, and exemplify the Zuni's distinctive polychrome style that evolved from earlier traditions influenced by the pueblo's isolation and cultural continuity post-Spanish contact.
Zuni pottery-making dates back over a thousand years, but the "historic era" specifically highlights pieces from around 1850 onward, marking a shift to more elaborate designs amid European influences like trade and tourism.