American
Acoma Style Olla, n.d.
Not on view
Earthenware
Dimensions1 3/4 × 2 1/4 in. (4.4 × 5.7 cm)
Gift from the Collection of Myron and Barbara Levine, 2018.131
The Pueblo of Acoma in New Mexico is the oldest continuously inhabited community in the United States. Over thousands of years, pottery traditions have passed down through generations. Acoma artists are well known for their fine line painting and geometric patterns, which often symbolize elements from nature. Among many Native American cultures, ollas are used for storing water. They are typically characterized as having a wide body and a small neck, to prevent quick evaporation. Early ollas were unglazed and slightly porous so water would slowly seep through to the exterior of the pot. These are elaborately decorated in the Acoma fashion and are far more decorative than their minimalistic predecessors.
