Leno, Juana – 11″ Tall Jar with Fine-Line Stars, Rabbits, Butterflies and Deer (1970s)

Juana Leno is one of the four revivalist matriarchs of contemporary Acoma pottery (including Marie Z. Chino, Lucy Lewis, and Jessie Garcia). She was a daughter of Lupita and Jose Vallo and learned to make pottery from her grandmother Eulilia Vallo. This striking long-neck water jar with a fluted rim. It is coil-built and thin walled. The jar is painted with bee-weed (black).  There are three rows of medallions. The neck has Mimbres rabbits, the top of the shoulder large Pueblo butterflies and the bottom Heartline Deer.  The placement of the medallions and the painting is exceptional.  Connecting them with the fine-lines is simply elegant.  It’s not often we see pieces this size by Juana.  It is signed on the bottom, “Leno”. It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration, or repair.  It is a creative piece of pottery by this important Acoma Pueblo potter!