Featured Pueblo Blackware Pot... restore?

Discussion in 'Tribal Art' started by stracci, Jun 13, 2021.

  1. Taupou

    Taupou Well-Known Member

    I would agree, that it is most likely San Juan (now Ohkay Owinge), based on the shape, and the fact that it is black. Isleta, as far as I know, never made black pottery. Prior to the late 19th century, they made only a light-colored orange pottery, primarily large bowls for their own use.

    San Juan and Santa Clara made large ollas, but this rounded shape is found primarily at San Juan. In addition, the fairly thin walls are more indicative of San Juan, than Santa Clara, whose pottery tended to be thicker.

    However, San Juan black pottery made before the end of the 19th century almost always featured a "color break," an unpolished lower section. So this one might not be quite that old.

    San Juan had the reputation of making the best very large, light weight, thin, pottery jars that were always in demand for their practicality, so they were widely sought after and traded.

    Frank Harlow would have been the one to ask, but unfortunately he's no longer with us. His collection is at the Santa Fe Museum Hill's Museum of Indian Art and Culture, though, and a conservation specialist there will be able to give you good information.
     
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  2. stracci

    stracci Well-Known Member

    Thanks for all the great information. I will look into it!
     
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  3. stracci

    stracci Well-Known Member

    As I look closer, I can clearly see the unpolished bottom section, so it looks to be that old!
    IMG_20210619_134331.jpg IMG_20210619_134349.jpg IMG_20210619_134450.jpg
     
    Last edited: Jun 19, 2021
  4. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

    could the drill holes be to hang or hold the pot.....?
     
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  5. stracci

    stracci Well-Known Member

    The drill holes were an old repair. There was a thick square (about 6"x8") of corrugated cardboard lashed into the holes with cotton string as a kind of crude patch. We cut this patch off when we acquired the pot.
    IMG_20210619_160845.jpg
     
    Last edited: Jun 19, 2021
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  6. Taupou

    Taupou Well-Known Member

    Now I see it! (It was a little hard to discern on my phone.) Thanks for the additional photos, which clearly show the break between the polished and unpolished bottom. I think it's definitely an early San Juan olla.
     
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  7. DizzyDaff

    DizzyDaff Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.

    "Mother -in-law is 85, with many health conditions. Her memory is beginning to suffer"

    @stracci Hi, lovely old pot.
    I've taken care of and helped many older relatives and done lots of geneaology with them. I've found that if asked a direct question, "where did that old pot come from?", will recieve a " I can't recall"; but if you ask things like "did you go somewhere to get this pot? " or "what did you keep in this lovely old pot?:(even if you know the answer).
    When dealing with those who have memory issues, ask questons that will embrace a memory, "what all did you keep in that pot?", and mostly come at the memory from another side - when I needed family info on some cousins of my gramdmothers, she couldn't recall all their names, but when I asked did she ever play with cousin's children? She immediately told me a story about playing with children of different names, (I learned to never interrupt), just wrote down the story she told and noted the names she mentioned;, once she was done, when I asked about the names, she told me, "Oh that's cousin's 4 children". LOL
    Our minds are sneaky things. Mostly you will need patience.
    Wishing you and mother in law, health and patience with each other.:happy:
     
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  8. stracci

    stracci Well-Known Member

    Thank you for the advice @DizzyDaff.
    My husband will be visiting with her this week, and hopefully we can find out how she came to own this pot.
     
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  9. Figtree3

    Figtree3 What would you do if you weren't afraid?

    That is wonderful advice. Thank you! My mother is getting older and doing okay cognitively, but I can see changes in her memory and how she addresses memories. So I may ask her some questions this way.
     
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  10. stracci

    stracci Well-Known Member

    I finally spoke to a Pueblo potter who suggested Duco Cement. It is an acetone based glue which is reversible. I ran right out and got some. I did some preliminary tests with some other broken items and it creates a strong bond, and dissolves with acetone.
    So I repaired the pot. I am very happy with how it turned out.
    IMG_20210623_191302.jpg
    IMG_20210623_195356.jpg
     
    Last edited: Jun 23, 2021
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  11. smallaxe

    smallaxe Well-Known Member

  12. 2manybooks

    2manybooks Well-Known Member

    Nice job! Duco was the old standard for archeologists. It does remain reversible in acetone, but it can eventually yellow, dry out, and lose adhesion. But it will probably last your lifetime.
     
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  13. stracci

    stracci Well-Known Member

    Thanks! I was happy that all the pieces were there, and that they fit together easily with no problems. This is my new favorite glue!
     
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  14. Taupou

    Taupou Well-Known Member

    Beautiful job! Thank you for doing what many wouldn't recognize as even being possible, and for saving a piece of history. And for sharing it here with us!
     
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  15. stracci

    stracci Well-Known Member

    Thanks for all your input, as well!
    I get a thrill from making old things look good again. Since this is a historical item, I resisted filling in the small chips and areas of loss along some of the breaks. If this was a newer pot, I would've patched the cracks with filler, then painted over to hide the repair. But not this time.
    I think it is better to leave the repair visible.
     
    Last edited: Jun 24, 2021
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  16. moreotherstuff

    moreotherstuff Izorizent

    Looks wonderful!
     
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  17. Figtree3

    Figtree3 What would you do if you weren't afraid?

    It looks wonderful, as repaired!
     
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  18. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

    WELL DONE !!!!!
    Looks great...:happy::happy:
     
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  19. stracci

    stracci Well-Known Member

    Thanks! If Komo approves, then I must've done a good job!:woot::wacky::kiss:
     
  20. stracci

    stracci Well-Known Member

    I should have included this photo.
    This is how it came to us....
    IMG_20210626_184451.jpg
     
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