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Acoma bowl by Lucy Lewis

Creator: Lucy Lewis
Offered by: Marcy Burns American Indian Arts LLC

Description
Black on white bowl with geometric design, 7 1/8” diameter x 4 1/2” high. Three-rod coiled out of natural clay, slipped with natural Acoma slip and painted with natural beeswax paint using a hand-made yucca brush. 1960-1970. Excellent condition. ex: Chimayo Trading and Mercantile, Chimayo, NM; Private Collection

Lucy Lewis lived from circa 1890s-1992, having spent her entire life living in Acoma Pueblo. She is considered a Matriarch of Pueblo pottery. She worked only with natural materials and methods, including firing her pots over an open pit fire even after other potters began to use greenware and kilns. Lucy applied the black painted geometric design using a yucca brush that she made. Her designs were inspired by ancient Mimbres designs.

The purchase receipt from Chimayo Trading in Chimayo, NM indicates that Lucy made this pot between 1960-1970.

In 1977, she was invited to the White House.She was awarded the New Mexico’s Governor’s Award in 1983 and her work is part of the permanent collection of the Smithsonian Institution. She has long been recognized as a Matriarch of Pueblo Pottery.

This pot is in excellent condition. When the interior is examined, one can see Lucy’s horizontal strokes when she applied the Acoma slip. The pot is very thin-walled. (Acoma slip has kaolin in it. Kaolin strengthens the clay, allowing the potter to form the pot with thinner walls). All of these traits are desirable when collecting major Pueblo pottery.

More Information

Documentation:	Signed
Period:	1950-1979
Creation Date:	1960-1970
Styles / Movements:	Modern, Mid Century
Dealer Reference #:	mc2265
Incollect Reference #:	630618

Dimensions

H.	4.5 in;	Diam.	7.12 in;
H.	11.43 cm;	Diam.	18.08 cm;

Message from Seller:

For over thirty years, Marcy Burns American Indian Arts LLC has been nationally recognized as a premier dealer in antique American Indian basketry, textiles, pottery and jewelry, including Native American and Classic Designer jewelry from Taxco, Mexico.