Description
This small olla water jar handcrafted by Zuni Pueblo potter Carlos Laate is a beautiful work of art that will be a cherished piece in any collection. Known for his use of traditional Zuni motifs and designs, this petite vessel made in the traditional polychrome style features geometric patterns representing nature and the elements of the Earth throughout. A closer look and you'll see the deer depicted with the traditional heartline, the symbolic "breath of life", a design that Carlos has become known for.
Carlos began making pottery around 1987, and also crafts jewelry and carvings. His destiny as an artist was almost certain, as his mother was a jeweler, his father a carver, leatherworker, and welder, and his grandmother and aunt renowned potters Daisy Hooee and Jennie Laate. Carlos looks to ancient pots found in museums, and potsherds found while walking near his Zuni home, to inspire the designs of his work. It was his grandparents who explained the meanings behind the images he found. “What they taught me was that all the designs that are on the pot are the prayers we use in our daily lives – to have a good life, to have a successful life, and asking for longevity.”
Bowl measures 3-3/4" long and wide, stands 3-1/2" tall . Comes with certificate of authenticity.
Details
- Wedding vase handmade by Carlos Laate Zuni Pueblo
- Natural clay with all-natural vegetal and mineral slip
- Crafted through traditional horizontal coil method
- Deer dancer, animal, rain, cloud designs
- Wedding vase measures L: 6" X W: 3-1/2" X H: 6-3/4"
- Comes with a signed Certificate of Authenticity
Handcrafted works of Native American art require special care. For more information about proper care and cleaning, please read our Care Guide.
About the Artist
Carlos learned pottery making from his step-grandmother, Daisy Hooee, by observing and listening to his grandmother and what she had to say about pottery making. It was the same way with his aunt Jennie Laate. Carlos has been making pottery since 1989, and his technique continues to improve. His design elements cover all the traditional motifs: deer house, rosettes, rainbirds, lines, curves, and geometrics.
Collector's Guide
The most celebrated and recognized art form of the Pueblo Indians of New Mexico is pottery. Pueblo pottery is known around the world for its remarkable beauty and craftsmanship. It has been made in much the same way for over a thousand years, with every step of creation completed by hand. Pueblo potters do not use a wheel but construct pots using the traditional horizontal coil method or freely forming the shape. After the pot is formed, the artist polishes the piece with a natural polishing stone, such as a river stone, then paints it with a vegetal, mineral or commercial slip. Finally, the pot is fired in an outdoor fire or kiln using manure or wood as fuel. Santa Clara, San Ildefonso, Jemez and Acoma Pueblos have distinctive pottery styles that are especially prized by collectors, but accomplished potters are working in all Pueblos. Today, Pueblo pottery is an exciting and dynamic form, with many artists pairing traditional techniques with innovative and stylized designs. Those potters who continue to create pots using traditional methods possess an extraordinary level of skill, and their pots are highly valuable works of fine art that will be enjoyed for generations to come.
Read our Native American Pottery Collector's Guide.Our Guarantee of Authenticity
At the Indian Pueblo Store we guarantee that your purchase is an original and authentic work handcrafted by Native American artists as defined by the Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990. We ask our artists to complete an extensive certification process, providing a CIB (Certificate of Degree of Indian Blood) card and other documentation of their Native American heritage. Our team of experts carefully inspects every product to guarantee it is handcrafted using traditional, sustainable processes and natural materials of only the highest quality. We record the place and date of each purchase and pride ourselves in paying a fair price that allows artists to make a living practicing their craft. At a time when many commercially-made products are being sold as handcrafted Native American art, our in-depth purchase process allows us to guarantee the authenticity of every unique piece of fine art we offer. For more than 35 years, we have made it a priority to visit artists in their studio or home to purchase their latest handcrafted pieces and learn about their work. We have developed lasting relationships with artists, as well as dealers and collectors, and we take pride in being a trusted destination for fine Native American art.