Native American, southwest New Mexico, villages in southern Cibola Anasazi/northern Mogollon, Ancestral Puebloan (Anasazi) culture, ca. 1200 to 1400 CE. A stunning pottery pitcher, intricately hand-painted with elaborate black-on-white decoration of mesmerizing spiral, linear, zigzag, and geometric motifs. The bulbous body features a thick, horizontal band of repeated wave-like designs surrounded by parallel striations, stepped patterns, and lattice and dotted ornaments, while an effigy handle connects the body to the tubular neck, ending just below the circular rim. A swirling triangular decoration encompasses the neck and petite dashes embellish the top of the rim. Resembling a bifurcated trumpet, the handle is additionally adorned by a register of steppe motif with a fretted border surrounding the flared top. Size: 5.8" Diameter x 6" H (14.7 cm x 15.2 cm); 6.3" H (16 cm) on included custom stand.

Tularosa pottery from the Starkweather Ruin has been divided into three styles - Wingate, Snowflake and Tularosa - reflecting similarities in decoration with their source types. Classic Tularosa Style designs are based on spirals, a diagnostic feature of the type. However, the spiral-stairstep motif that we see in this example is considered to be the most advanced development. Though the meanings of many of these symbols have been lost via the passage of time, scholars posit that they are largely reference natural phenomena and human relations. For example, the interlocked terrace motifs may symbolize house/marriage or clouds/lightning, the intermeshed spirals could mean friendship, the dotted lattice patterns may be intended to represent corn, and the triangles could be additional clouds.

Provenance: private S.S. collection, Los Angeles, California, USA

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.

Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.

#172832

Professionally repaired with restoration and repainting. Light surface wear as shown with some small nicks, abrasions, and pitting, commensurate with age. Otherwise, excellent with impressive remaining pigments and detail.