Acoma Pueblo Polychrome Dough Bowl with Stylized Floral and Geometric Designs
Decorative Art/Ceramic Bowl • Acoma Pueblo artist (unidentified). Characteristic of the style popularized by families like the Lewis or Chino families.
Style & Movement
Native American Puebloan Pottery (Acoma Pueblo style)
Medium & Technique
Hand-coiled clay, vegetable and mineral pigments, slip-painted. Features traditional hand-painted fine-line and geometric patterning using a yucca brush.
Creation Period
Early to mid-20th century (c. 1920-1950)
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 7-9 inches in diameter, circular low bowl format.
Subject Description
The bowl features a polychrome design in black, white, and orange-red slip. The iconography includes stylized floral motifs (likely representing rain or growth), parrot-wing abstractions, and geometric hatching that symbolizes falling rain and clouds, common in Acoma water-related symbolism.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Fair to Good. There is a prominent vertical crack running through the side, and visible surface abrasions and minor slip loss around the rim.
Estimated Market Value
$400 - $800 USD (value is suppressed significantly by the structural crack/repair)
Auction Estimate
$300 - $600 USD
Provenance History
Likely acquired via the Southwest tourist trade in the mid-20th century. No visible labels or signatures are apparent in the image rafters, though many historic pieces were unsigned.
Art Historical Significance
Acoma pottery is renowned for its thin-walled construction and complex geometric designs. This piece represents the continuity of Ancestral Puebloan ceramic traditions and the adaptation of these forms for the collector market during the early 20th century.
Notable Features
The contrast between the dark interior slip and the highly detailed polychrome exterior is a classic hallmark of historic Acoma utility and trade wares.
Condition Issues
Significant vertical stress crack extending from the rim toward the base; visible chipping along the rim; surface scuffing and small pits in the pigment slip.
Conservation Recommendations
Professional structural stabilization of the crack is recommended to prevent further splitting. Display in a climate-controlled environment away from direct sunlight and avoid handling by the rim.