Water Jar Item Number: D4.34 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Polychrome jar, brown-black design with red-brown detail on white (now smudged). Rim band extends 2.5 cm inside jar, 3 mm to the outside. Second thin line just below the first, with a 5 mm break at one point. Neck decoration is abstract curvilinear and geometric (repeated once). Details include brown-black crosshatching and red-brown horizontal stripes. Body and neck are separated by 2 bands with a 4 mm break. Body design includes deer in domed, decorated sections. Floral designs separate the 2 sets of 2 deer. Deer are brown-black with white flanks, around eyes and a red-brown line extending from the muscle to the interior, ending in a knob or triangle. Floral design; scalloped circle enclosing a 4 petalled flower. Base is solid brown-black. There is a scrape on one floral rosette, upper left.
Iconographic Meaning
Breaks in the bands around the jar are called 'onane', meaning the 'road of life' or 'spirit path'. This opening is associated with the life or spirit of the potter. The deer and medallion motif arose in the second half of the last century. The red line in the deer is called 'binnanne' which is translated as 'lifeline', 'breathline' or possibly 'heartline'.
Item History
- Made in Zuni Pueblo, New Mexico, USA before 1952
- Collected during 1952
- Owned by Marianne Dozier between 1952 and February 1953
- Received from Marianne Dozier (Seller) and Museum Purchase (Funding source) during February 1953
What
Who
- Culture
- Zuni
- Previous Owner
- Marianne Dozier
- Received from
- Marianne Dozier (Seller) and Museum Purchase (Funding source)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- Zuni Pueblo, New Mexico, USA
When
- Creation Date
- before 1952
- Collection Date
- during 1952
- Ownership Date
- between 1952 and February 1953
- Acquisition Date
- during February 1953
Other
- Item Classes
- ceramics
- Condition
- good
- Current Location
- Case 88
- Accession Number
- 2195/0001