Author Topic: NEED HELP: Is This Old Native American Pottery ?? HAS ME STUMPED (Read 4035 times)

diamondjim12 · « **on:** May 14, 2013, 05:44:32 pm »

I want to thank anyone & everyone that responds in advance. I have spent several months searching the internet(eBay, Pottery Forums, Google Image Searches, visited numerous Native American pottery websites, searched Maker's stamps & More). To date I have not found anything out about my piece. I normally do not collect pottery, though for some reason I found this piece intriguing. I will let the photos speak for themselves. I have a vague understanding of pottery jargon. I am a newbie to collecting pottery. Any information, tips or comments are appreciated. I am not even sure what this is, a vase? What the figures on the side are and or their meaning? Is this old? Is this rare? Can anyone attribute this to any Native American culture/group/tribe? Perhaps this is not Native American at all, and another culture? Can anyone identify the symbols? Is this an amateur piece made in someones basement?

HERE ARE THE DETAILS: The pottery piece is approximately 6 inches from top to bottom. Approximately 5-6 inches at its widest point. The piece is glazed(think that is the term?). It is light to medium green in color with light blue accents around the figures. The designs/symbols/figures appear not to have any color on them & are rough in texture(possibly just plain color of clay used?) There are human-like figures that appear to be crawling up the piece of pottery. The figures appear to have bones or something protruding from their sides. There are several symbols. One of them being a triangle inside of a triangle, one that appears to be a half moon, and another that is oval-shaped with lines/designs within. It most definitely appears to be handmade, not a mass-produced piece of pottery. The piece has some weight, it is not hollow, it is very solid. Lastly, there appears to be a stamped or imprinted symbol/letter on the bottom of the piece. The bottom of the piece is not glazed/colored and appears to be the original color of the clay used making the piece. Please look at my detailed photos(photography is not my forte), and let me know what you think. Again, any and all help is appreciated.

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IlliniGuy · « **Reply #1 on:** May 14, 2013, 06:00:10 pm »

It does look like a nice piece of pottery. I really don't know what it is but I am sure it is not Native American. Shape, color, glaze and motif are all wrong for that. Hopefully someone here can tell more about it.

diamondjim12 · « **Reply #2 on:** May 14, 2013, 06:22:23 pm »

Quote from: IlliniGuy on May 14, 2013, 06:00:10 pm

It does look like a nice piece of pottery. I really don't know what it is but I am sure it is not Native American. Shape, color, glaze and motif are all wrong for that. Hopefully someone here can tell more about it.

Thank you IlliniGuy -- Your response has at least got me pointed in a new direction. So, not Native American....hmmm. I have my fingers crossed that someone has seen a similar piece or knows the cultural background of the piece. Thanks again for your reply friend

Ipcress · « **Reply #3 on:** May 14, 2013, 07:32:25 pm »

I'd say studio pottery made within the last 40-50 years.

No idea who the potter was

mart · « **Reply #4 on:** May 14, 2013, 08:02:52 pm »

I agree its a studio piece,, independent potter,, not Native American !! Could be something South American,, or just someones art piece with meaning known only to the potter !! Odd little thing !! I think its just a vase !! I see no other purpose for it !! Not clean enough inside for drinking ect !! They usually take more care if food or drink is involved !! Does the mark look like a stylized A ??

diamondjim12 · « **Reply #5 on:** May 14, 2013, 09:49:06 pm »

Quote from: mart on May 14, 2013, 08:02:52 pm

I agree its a studio piece,, independent potter,, not Native American !! Could be something South American,, or just someones art piece with meaning known only to the potter !! Odd little thing !! I think its just a vase !! I see no other purpose for it !! Not clean enough inside for drinking ect !! They usually take more care if food or drink is involved !! Does the mark look like a stylized A ??

Thank you for all of your information and help. I will do more research on "Studio Pieces" as I am not familiar with this era and or style. To answer your question, yes it does appear to be a stylized "A", either engraved or stamped, cause to the right of it is a line impression. What would you value a piece like this at, for insurance purposes, if even valuable enough to be warranted? Any further information is welcomed. Thanks again to all for your help.

mart · « **Reply #6 on:** May 15, 2013, 04:56:49 am »

http://www2.fiu.edu/~mizrachs/yage.html

Read the paragraph on shamanism in South America !! Might give you an insite on the meaning of the vase !!

diamondjim12 · « **Reply #7 on:** May 15, 2013, 07:52:00 pm »

Thank you Mart... So you are thinking this is a South American Shamanism piece? Do you think it is old, valuable? Thanks again!

bigwull · « **Reply #8 on:** May 16, 2013, 02:51:40 am »

i think it has something to do with popping yer clogs...and buriel....

mart · « **Reply #9 on:** May 16, 2013, 04:55:22 am »

It looks like a 20th century piece to me but I am no expert on pottery,,!! Value would depend on the potter and like all collectables,, if anyone has interest in his work !! No matter if its the only one in existence its not worth anything if no one else wants it !! I would look at Colombia, Equador ect !! Perhaps you can track it down by the mark !! Or if you have one close,, a museum that has experience in South American culture could point you in the right direction !!

Rauville · « **Reply #10 on:** May 16, 2013, 08:44:21 am »

My first impression is that of visualizing multi-armed Hindu deities on the vase.

bigwull · « **Reply #11 on:** May 16, 2013, 09:21:46 am »

I think its time you got the latest edition of that big book of yours....either that,or its playing havoc with your digestive system ,which in turn is fogging up yer grey matter....

..cos after all,everyone knows that its yer arse that has the last say,when it come to making decisions....

mart · « **Reply #12 on:** May 16, 2013, 09:27:03 am »

Could be,, Rauville !! Like I said,, I am no pottery expert !!

diamondjim12 · « **Reply #13 on:** May 17, 2013, 05:44:21 pm »

Thank you all for your opinions and input. I am still researching, have not been able to find anything with the same symbols and figures that appear on the piece. Are there any other sites or forums that specialize in pottery? Any other resources that I could use? Thanks again for all your help, though still stumped

mart · « **Reply #14 on:** May 17, 2013, 07:25:13 pm »

AS I said above,, a museum might be able to help !! You can find their websites easily !! The Smithsonian has an extensive collection and you possibly can email pics to them for an opinion !! Didn`t see any major wear on the bottom of yours so as I said I don`t think its particularly old but it is interesting !!

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