Cochiti Canteen Pottery

ca. 1940

3.25" H x 5.25" L x 4.25" W

Buff Clay with Painted Red Bottom and Black Geometric Designs with a Lizard on Top, Handles on the Sides and a Leather Affixed Handle

Excellent Condition

Cochiti canteen pottery originates from the Cochiti Pueblo, a Keresan-speaking Native American community located along the Rio Grande River in New Mexico, about 40 miles southwest of Santa Fe. Known for its hospitality and vibrant cultural traditions, Cochiti has a rich history of pottery-making that dates back centuries. Canteens—vessels designed for carrying water with a narrow neck, spout, and often one or two handles—are a classic form in Cochiti ceramics, reflecting both utilitarian needs in the arid Southwest and artistic expression. These pieces are hand-coiled from local clays, slipped with white bentonite for a smooth base, stone-polished to a glossy sheen, and fired outdoors in open pits to achieve their distinctive polychrome (multi-colored) finishes.

Provenance:  From the Len and Toni Wood Private Collection, Laguna Beach, California