Native American, Southwestern United States, Ancestral Puebloan (Anasazi), late Pueblo II to Pueblo III, ca. 1100 to 1300 CE. This is a rare and astounding piece of hand-coiled black-on-white pottery with an unusual askos or "doughnut" shape that perhaps represents a snake! The ring is hollow and opens into the base of the tall neck and ovoid mouth. A strap handle spans from the ring's center to just below the spout lip. The surface is panted a creamy white with an intricate and busy geometric pattern in black. Ring-form vessels like this example were ceremonial items that may have been used in a rain ritual to end droughts. Supposedly after the pitchers were left outside and the ritual performed, the rain would only fall into these pitchers via their wide spouts. The villagers drank this collected water and saved the rest for healing purposes. Size: 5.5" Diameter x 3.85" H (14 cm x 9.8 cm)

Cf. The Brooklyn Museum, accession number 03.325.4190

Provenance: private S.S. collection, Los Angeles, California, USA; ex-Lost World Artifacts, Acworth, Georgia, USA

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#168811

Repaired from approximately 10 large pieces. Restoration on the neck and over painting to designs in this area. Visible break lines and hairline fissures on neck and handle. Surface abrasions and chipping to pigments. Great preservation of motifs; rare type!