Description

Polacca Polychrome (1780-1900) was the style of pottery made at Hopi in the tumultuous years following the Pueblo Revolt and Spanish Re-conquest (1680-1700). During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, successive decades of drought required Hopi people to move to Zuni to have enough water to farm. During other drought years, Zuni people moved to Hopi to be able to farm. As a result of the movement of people, Zuni and Keresan iconography was adopted by Hopi potters. Polacca Polychrome is identifiable by its crackly slip, untidy painting style, and use of Zuni pottery designs. The Zuni designs on this jar are the wavey designs at the jar’s shoulder and the body. The jar is typical of Polacca C style, the type of pottery made at Walpi, Nampeyo’s grandmother, and mother-in-law’s village.