Native American, Southwestern United States, New Mexico, Anasazi, Mimbres Valley, Mimbres, ca. 1025 to 1250 CE. An impressive example of a Mimbres black-on-white pottery bowl featuring thick walls and a flared rim, all sitting upon a round yet sturdy base. Enveloped in white slip, the vessel presents minimalist decoration of 3 horizontal black rings on the interior of the basin as well as a pattern of alternating zigzag motif and vertical string encompassing the rim. Marking the center is a kill hole which researchers believe was ritually punctured prior to placing the vessel over the face of a deceased individual, perhaps to provide a channel for the spirit to the afterlife while keeping out malevolent forces. Fascinatingly, Mimbres geometric designs seem to have been inspired by Southwestern landscape imagery. For example, the zigzag designs here might echo the jagged geologic formations on the desert. Size: 7.7" Diameter x 4.5" H (19.6 cm x 11.4 cm)

Mimbres people occupied the mountain and river valleys of southwestern New Mexico; the name we know them by is from the Spanish word for the willows that grew alongside the river valleys. The artists responsible for creating pottery vessels like this were women, and many Mimbres women have been found in burials accompanied by pottery making tools.

Provenance: private New Jersey, USA collection; ex-Eric Grossmeyer collection, Sussex, Wisconsin, USA; ex-Sandra Westbrooke collection, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA

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#181982

Professionally repaired with some restoration and repainting along break lines and to rim. Some light nicks and abrasions as shown, all commensurate with age. Otherwise, nice presentation with sturdy kill hole.