Santa Domingo Pueblo Pottery with Handle

Santa Domingo Pueblo Pottery with Handle
ca. 1930
Size 4.25" H x 4.25" D
Natural Clay with Painted Black and Red Flowers and Leaves with a Square Opening and a Painted Black Handle
In Good Condition with Light Wear as Pictured
Santo Domingo (Kewa) Pueblo pottery with handles is rare, as traditional forms like storage jars, ollas, and dough bowls typically lack handles due to their functional design and the elastic nature of the local clay, which supports larger, handle-free vessels. However, some historic and contemporary pieces may include handles, particularly smaller jars or ceremonial vessels. These are hand-coiled, made from buff-colored clay with a cream slip, and decorated with bold black or polychrome (black, red, or brown) geometric, floral, or bird motifs. Handles, when present, are often simple, functional, and integrated into the traditional aesthetic, maintaining the pueblo’s conservative approach to form and decoration.