New Mexico ca 19th century. Large pottery piece, 13 inches tall x 14 ½ inches wide. Acoma pottery is emblematic of the lifestyle of people who make it. It typically features thin walls, fluted rims, hand painted animal motifs, geometric patterns usually rendered in stark black and white, or muted warm colors, and is unglazed. Because of the dry climate and the type of clay native to the land, pottery produced in this region is both lightweight and durable. The clay is naturally gray, but appears white in most Acoma pottery because it is layered with Kaolin, a type of soft white clay. Pigments are derived from natural resources such as minerals, plants, and other types of clays.

Damaged with missing pieces.