$4,800.00
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ca. 1880
9.125" H x 12.5" D
Large Redware Clay Olla Jar with Fire Clouds
Excellent Condition with Typical Aged Wear
San Juan Pueblo, now known as Ohkay Owingeh (Tewa for "Place of the Strong People"), is a historic Tewa-speaking Pueblo located north of Española, New Mexico. The community's pottery tradition, particularly ollas (traditional water storage jars), reflects centuries of cultural continuity, adaptation, and revival. Ollas from Ohkay Owingeh are renowned for their elegant, curvaceous forms—typically globular bodies with narrow necks and flared rims—designed for practical use in carrying and storing water. These vessels embody the Pueblo's emphasis on simplicity, functionality, and subtle beauty, often featuring fire-clouding (natural color variations from open-pit firing) and hand-polished surfaces.
Pottery making at Ohkay Owingeh predates Spanish contact in 1598, when the village was renamed San Juan de los Caballeros. Early pieces were utilitarian, crafted by coiling local red clay, slipping (coating) with finer clay, and firing in reduction atmospheres to achieve distinctive finishes. Unlike more ornate styles from neighboring Pueblos like Santa Clara or San Ildefonso, Ohkay Owingeh pottery prioritizes graceful shapes over elaborate decoration, making it a favorite among collectors who appreciate understated elegance.
Provenance: From the Len and Toni Wood Private Collection, Laguna Beach, California
Condition:
Excellent
Tribe:
San Juan
Year Range:
1875 - 1900
Region:
Southwest
Dimensions:
9.13 in12.5 in
Category:
Pottery Bowls and Jars Post 1940
