Trujillo, Reyecita – Incised Jar with Butterflies (1940’s)

6.5"w x 7.5"h

$ 825.00

Reycita Trujillo is one of the early revivalists in San Juan pottery.  This jar is the “second phase” of incised pottery at San Juan.  The Potsuwi’i linear incised pieces quickly became the incised and slipped polychrome pottery of the late 1930s.  This allowed the potters to create new imagery.  The top and base are typically polished red while the central band has matte (unpolished) clay colors of red, white, and tan.  This jar is polished red on the rim and base.  The remainder is very intricately designed.  There are complex butterflies on each side, along with clouds and plants.  They incised areas are slipped in red and then highlighted with white clay. It is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Reycita Trujillo”. The jar is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.

Reyecita was one of the original Eight San Juan potters who revived the art form in the 1930s.  At San Juan, the Pueblo was renown for their pottery but by about 1890 there were no potters left. In 1930 Regina Cata organized a pottery study group at San Juan Pueblo with the intent of revitalizing pottery production. The group studied ancient potsherds of wares made at San Juan in earlier times and selected Potsuwi‘i Incised Ware (1450-1500) as a basis for a contemporary pottery type.

“Revival Rising” Ohkay Owingeh Pottery 1930s-60s