Southwestern USA, east central Arizona/west southern New Mexico, Ancestral Puebloan (Anasazi), ca. 1175 to 1300 CE. A splendid vessel of hemispherical form and vibrant coloring, created using the coil and scrape method by Anasazi artisans of St. Johns - the first Anasazi potters to make polychrome pottery during the prehistoric period. Prior to this, pottery was either black-on-white or black-on-red. This specific form of Anasazi pottery is known as St. Johns Black-on-Red ware. It is essentially the equivalent of Tularosa Black-on-White that has been fired in an oxidizing atmosphere to achieve a red ground. The exterior of this example has been adorned with white paint featuring a mesmerizing maze motif. Alternatively, the interior walls are intricately embellished by an abstract design of spiraling, linear, and step pyramid patterns, all in black. The extensive caparison of the decorative program and the stark contrast of pigments make for a rich and engaging example from Anasazi culture! Size: 11" in diameter x 5.6" H (27.9 cm x 14.2 cm)

Though they serve as spectacular decorative elements, the designs on St. John's pottery often held great significance to their makers. The meaning of each symbol, however, can vary greatly between location and artist, thus proving their interpretation to be a rather daunting task. When placing the iconography of this vessel in the context of St. John's tradition, the maze motif exterior may symbolize pueblos or a village, while the parallel striations on the interior can be interpreted at representing earth.

This piece has been published in "Sandstone Hill Pueblo Ruin: Cibola Culture in Catron County, New Mexico" by Franklin Barnett (Albuquerque, NM: Albuquerque Archaeological Society, 1974) on page 47.

Provenance: private Pennsylvania, USA collection, acquired in 2003; ex-Griffin Gallery, Boca Raton, Florida, USA

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#164457

Repaired from several pieces with restoration over break lines and a few areas of restoration on rim. Some miniscule nicks and lightly abraded areas. Otherwise, excellent with impressive remaining pigments.