united states, arizona, hohokam culture Jar with zigzag pattern c. ad 850–950 Ceramic; Santa Cruz Red-on-buff type 6 × 8M in. diam. ( 15.2 × 21.6 cm) Foundation for the Arts Collection, anonymous gift, 1988.105.FA
The Hohokam people, who lived in present‑ day south central Arizona, had developed a significant pottery tradition by about ad 500. Hohokam ceramics are easily recognized by their buff‑colored clay and dark red painting. Fluid brushwork, spontaneous in effect yet precisely controlled, depicts both highly stylized life forms and a variety of geometric motifs. Designs are usually organized in concentric circular bands or repeated to create an allover pattern.
united states, arizona, ancestral pueblo (anasazi ) culture Storage jar c. 1125–1200 Ceramic; White Mountain Red ware, Wingate Black-on-red type 12N × 13 in. diam. (31.1 × 33 cm) Foundation for the Arts Collection, anonymous gift, 1991.336.FA
The Ancestral Pueblo (Anasazi) culture, fore‑ runner to modern Pueblo peoples, developed some two thousand years ago in northern New Mexico and the Four Corners area, where Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico meet. This vessel features a red background and interlock‑ ing hatched and solid figures. Although Ances‑ tral Pueblo painting is generally nonfigurative, occasionally, as here, the judicious placement of the dotted circle turns the stepped spiral into the head of a bird with a long, curving beak.
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ancient and native american
3121-02 DMA handbook Ancient [RCP 10-7].indd 54
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