201102-02 Large Zia Pueblo Jar - ca. 1960-80 with light orange slip blushing
ca 1960-1980
12"h x 13 1/2" d
#2 of 2 matching jars (slight design changes)
Unsigned but attributed to Sofia Medina (1932-2010).
With a revival of the orange slip, likely an experimental work inspired by the 1920 - 1940s orange slip wares that came to Zia. This slip is not of the same nature as the earlier ones, yet there are few examples of this cream/orange slip on Medina family work as the light cream slip is the common color used.
Sofia Medina (and later her daughter Lois Medina) was known for a traditional style of Zia pottery. Each piece was coil built, painted with native clays and native fired. This is jar is striking in design and a very classic Zia shape with the high shoulder and slight neck. The jar has two large sections with birds under double rainbows, with clouds underneath the rainbow; and there are two small birds underneath the joining of the double rainbows on each side. The entire piece is fully painted and note how the rainbow bands are stone polished areas! Zia potters use volcanic basalt as their temper for the clay; the surface on the non-stone polished areas has very light spalling. The jar is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.
A superior work.