This box is from Santa Clara pueblo.  It is unsigned but from the 1930’s period.  It is unusual to find red boxes from this period.  While it is not unusual that the box is unsigned it does have an unusual squared handle, which was probably the potter’s “signature” or identifying style.  The piece is painted with a red-on-red design with white clay outlines.  It is a detailed design with rain and cloud designs.  It is a complex and striking design.  It is in very good condition with no cracks, restoration or repair. There is a chip on one of the edges of the lid.

Why Boxes?

There has long been a fascination with boxes, that is to say, square or rectangular clay vessels with flat, clay lids.  At the Pueblos of New Mexico, there is a historic precedent for these square-shaped pieces that were typically used for holding corn meal for Pueblo dances.  These boxes, however, typically did not have lids, and more likely, carved or raised ends.

In the 1920s there was a revival of boxes at San Ildefonso at the same time as the “new” black-on-black style of pottery.  The boxes had flat sides, but later, some were cylindrical.  They were painted on each side and they had a flat lid with a handle. The style of the handle, and its direction, were often indicative of the potter.  While some boxes may still have been made for cornmeal, most were made to hold cigarettes, small cigars, or curious, for the newly arriving tourist trade.  The potters of Santa Clara and other pueblos were also renowned for making clay boxes at the same time.

Boxes are difficult to make and crack in drying and firing.  The same with the flat lids.  Not surprisingly, over the past 100 years, the boxes have not fared well as they are often cracked or chipped.  The lids are often missing or damaged.  They are not only one of the most difficult and sought-after forms, but also one that is the least resilient to time.