1 6

SKU: 25-0762

Lage Anasazi Pottery Ladle; Gallup Black-on-White

$890.00

Shipping calculated at checkout.

AD 1000-1300
Size: 2.5" H x 13" L x 6" D
Some restoration.
Shows typical ladle thinning wear at front of cup.

Black-on-white Anasazi ladles (also called dippers) are classic examples of Ancestral Puebloan (Anasazi) pottery from the American Southwest, primarily dating from around 900–1300 CE (Pueblo II to Pueblo III periods).These functional yet artistic tools were used for serving food or scooping liquids, much like modern ladles or dippers. They feature a white slipped background painted with bold black mineral or organic pigments in geometric patterns—common motifs include interlocking scrolls, zigzags, step-frets, triangles, checkerboards, parallel lines, and sometimes figurative elements like insects or animals.Key Characteristics
  • Construction: Hand-coiled and shaped from local clays, then slipped with a white kaolin-based clay and painted before firing in a reducing atmosphere. Many have a bowl-shaped cup with a long, often hollow or tubular handle (sometimes containing small pebbles or clay beads that rattle when shaken—a fun auditory feature!).
  • Designs: Highly variable by region and sub-type. Examples include:
    • Gallup Black-on-White (Chaco Canyon area, ~1040–1150 CE): Often simpler, with geometric elements.
    • Mesa Verde Black-on-White (~1150–1280 CE): Intricate, dense geometric patterns, common in the northern San Juan region (Mesa Verde, Colorado/Utah area).
    • Tularosa Black-on-White (~1150–1300 CE): Associated with the Cibola region (near Zuni), known for bold, lustrous designs.
    • Sosi or Red Mesa Black-on-White (earlier, ~900–1150 CE): Bold solid elements like triangles and scrolls.
  • Sizes: Range from full-sized utilitarian pieces (e.g., 6–13+ inches long) to miniatures. Handles frequently show wear from right-handed use in some museum examples.

    crowcanyon.org
They were produced across the Four Corners region (Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah), with notable finds from sites like Chaco Canyon, Canyon de Chelly, Mesa Verde, and Aztec Ruins. Puebloan potters excelled at black-on-white wares, creating a wide variety of forms beyond ladles (jars, bowls, pitchers, etc.).

Condition: Good

Tribe: Anasazi - Hohokam - Salado - Caddo

Year Range: Prehistoric / Pre Columbian AD 400-1500

Region: Southwest

Dimensions: 13 in6 in2.5 in

Category: Pottery - Prehistoric

Shipping & Returns

We offer worldwide shipping on all antique pieces. Each item is carefully packaged to ensure safe delivery. Returns accepted within 14 days of delivery for items in original condition.

Authenticity Guarantee

Every piece in our collection comes with a certificate of authenticity. Our experts carefully verify the provenance and age of each item before it is offered for sale.