Posted 2 years ago
potteryguy5
(2 items)
The items were purchased as a lot with some Freida Poleahla Hopi redware from a New England collector. They appear to be Acoma 1960's-1990's but also resembled some Jemez and Isleta pieces. The smallest pot is signed "M.W." in graphite and is best shown in the final image. Please let me know if I can provide additional images or context to help you guys determine the origin. We are totally out of our depth and would love some more information!
I'd say you'd be safe in calling these Acoma, from the 1960s to 1990's.
Jemez pieces from that time period were not of this quality, and usually featured decoration with acrylic paint, which had a distinctive look, and usually chipped off.
On Isleta pottery usually the orange color was more "reddish," and making pottery there had almost disappeared after the Depression of the 1930s.
It's possible, but unlikely, that these came from Laguna, whose pottery pretty much looks like Acoma. But, unless you know who the potter was, it's almost impossible to tell the difference. Some say Laguna's pots are a little thicker, with less "busy" designs, but even that's not always true.
One way to date Acoma pottery, is that in the 1960s the clay source developed impurities, which later showed up as "pop-outs" or spalling, leaving little white "pits" or spots on the surface. A couple of these seem to have that. By the 1970s and since, that problem was solved. So I doubt if you can find out much more about these. You've identified them correctly.
(That may not be a signature, written in pencil like that. Usually it's an addition by a former owner.)
@canyonroad thanks so much for taking the time to help, I really appreciate it.
I saw a few of your replies on the forum while I was researching these pots and was hoping you'd be able to offer some perspective, you leave such comprehensive comments and seem extremely knowledgeable!
If you have the time to provide some more insight, I'd love to get your opinion on the value of the Acoma pots. We were thinking of selling them as a lot of five with the Freida Poleahla vessels I reference in the post. I've been looking at comparable auction results on Live Auctioneers but have been seeing such large price discrepancies that I don't feel confident providing an appraisal.
Please let me know if that's something you'd be willing to weigh in on or if you need additional images to evaluate the pots.
Thank you again for taking the time to educate folks on these beautiful items. I look forward to potentially getting your perspective!