Interesting Pottery Jug But What is It?

January 28, 2014 11:59 PM

I need your help ID'ing this piece of pottery.

It's around 7 inches in height 4 across. Seems like the bottom has been scratch the heck out of. It looks like there's an impala or mountain goat. And so I give you THE MYSTERY JUG.

Any ideas very welcomed!

posted by watercarrier to Media & Arts (7 answers total)

Best answer: I'm not an expert but it seems to be a piece of Hopi polychrome pottery of a type sometimes referred to as Sikyatki revival ware. It's a shame the bottom is so scratched up, because it looks like it could be by a named maker but the bottom would be most likely where the signature would be/would have been. Here are a few photos. Here are some more photos.
posted by gudrun at 1:02 AM on January 29, 2014 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: Yeah - the bottom is torn up. It looks very old though - any idea if it's worth something? Thank you.
posted by watercarrier at 1:32 AM on January 29, 2014

I've seen a couple of pots like that come up on Antiques Roadshow (though in far better shape), and, yeah, they seem to command a fairly decent value, depending on age and condition. You need to find an appraiser (or a museum curator) with experience in Native American artifacts.
posted by Thorzdad at 5:35 AM on January 29, 2014 [1 favorite]

Keep in mind, too, there's also a strong business in forgeries and "tourist" ware made to look old and distressed. You don't say when you acquired the pot, or how.
posted by Thorzdad at 6:06 AM on January 29, 2014

Response by poster: Thrift shop in the Middle East. Purchased with money.
posted by watercarrier at 6:16 AM on January 29, 2014

Best answer: Are the walls of the vessel pretty thick (they look it). Assuming it is genuine (it looks so from the photos but I'm not an expert) it is maybe 100 years old or so at maximum I think. It may be worth a bit of money, depending on who made it (shame there is no signature visible), but the condition affects the value a great deal, and also it is not large.

You want to find an appraiser experienced with Pueblo pottery. A museum curator is ethically not allowed to give you value info., just identification info.. The guy at this gallery (the one from my first link) may have some suggestions for you. The email address is at the bottom of the page.
posted by gudrun at 7:06 AM on January 29, 2014 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: The walls are VERY thick - that's one thing I noticed right away - also the burnished finish - amber color so yeah. Thank you very much for the name of someone to shed more light on this. Much appreciated.
posted by watercarrier at 7:18 AM on January 29, 2014