Kewa Santo Domingo Native American Pottery Dough Bowl

First of all a disclaimer: I know nothing about this type of pottery but have dealt with and collected pottery for a long time and this bowl 'feels' beautiful to hold.

From what I read this seems to be a Hopi dough bowl. I'm thinking maybe Hopi and around 1930 because I read somewhere that the bowls started to be marked around that time and the Hopi used symbols as marks.

I would love any help on the probable age of this bowl and descriptive terms for the design pattern.

Looking at completed auction on eBay and Worthpoint prices are all over the place and I want to be fair to the owner that I will be listing this for.

Thanks for any info.

 

I wouldn't rule out Zuni, but I'm a real amateur. The good news is that there are some awesome experts here who will tell you all you need to know.
By the way, I understand what you're saying about the "feel"... I can feel it now.

 

Jakatch, you're posting some lovely pieces, keep them coming.

 

Thanks Gila...I'll look into Zuni pottery as well.
Any Jewelry...a friend is downsizing and has asked me to help her with the items that cannot fit in her new place. She has some very lovely things. Thankfully she will be able to hold on to her favorites.

 

The bowl is Acoma, not related to either the Hopi, Zuni or the Kewa.

The black and orange discoloration on the bottom is a result of flames or burning materials coming into contact with the pot during the firing, and an indication it was fired in a traditional outdoor fire rather than in a kiln. The black x doesn't appear to be original to the pot.

It probably dates to the 1960s, based on the design pattern, and more importantly, on three tiny white "pop outs" you see on the surface. In the 1960s, impurities started appearing in Acoma clay, causing it to do this, and often it didn't happen until some time after the pots were finished and sold. It took several years before the problem was solved, and new clay sources replaced the contaminated ones. Not a good period for the potters, but it does help to date when the pots were made.

No particular name for the design patterns. Every potter comes up with her favorite designs, bases on what sells. Most are based on ideas taken from traditional motifs, combined in whatever works well for the potter.

 

Thank you very much, Taupou, for your reply and wonderful information that will help me to research this further. I have so much to learn and appreciate your taking the time to educate me on this.

 

Taupou always stuns.

 

The book I always recommend to anyone who wants the best basic guide to pueblo pottery, is Southwestern Pottery, Anasazi to Zuni by Alan Hayes and John Blom. A "Second Edition, Revised and Expanded" is also available now.

And here's an eBay listing for another interpretation of this particular design pattern: 122405538835