Southwest U.S., Pre-1894, Clay/ceramic

Gift of C.H. Wyman

Likely made by a female potter, this hand-coiled bowl was used for everyday eating. The matrilineal Zuni culture is known for their well-decorated, high quality pottery which is generally made by women. Their long tradition of pottery production has shifted functions over time from more ceremonial to utilitarian, everyday bowls like this. This bowl was likely made after Europeans spread to the Zuni homeland in the American Southwest. The imagery on the outside of this bowl shows Zuni innovation and creative history; their stair-like imagery is symbolic of the ladders essential to life in the large, multi-story residential complexes called pueblos. Based on the design, this bowl was probably used for daily life to eat corn-based meals, which were an essential part of the Zuni diet.