K’yabokya de’ele (Water Jar)
Arts of the Americas
On View: American Art Galleries, 5th Floor, Trouble the Water
About this Brooklyn Icon
The Brooklyn Museum is commemorating its 200th anniversary by spotlighting 200 standout objects in its encyclopedic collection.
Created by an A:shiwi potter, this k’yabokya de’ele (water jar) highlights the artistic ingenuity of Pueblo women and honors water as a life-giving force for Indigenous communities across the American Southwest. It is also a rare example of A:shiwi artistic production in the early and mid-19th century.
Water jars are ubiquitous forms that store the liquid vital for agriculture and survival in the arid Southwestern climate. The artist formed this vessel by layering long, thin coils of clay from A:shiwi peoples’ ancestral homelands, then smoothing the walls to achieve a highly polished surface. Next, she applied mineral paints and slips to create the striking design before firing the vessel. The imagery depicts geometric architectural forms, which support stylized butterflies. Beings that undergo radical physical transformation—like dragonflies, tadpoles, and butterflies—are common visual motifs on A:shiwi water jars.
The Brooklyn Museum is commemorating its 200th anniversary by spotlighting 200 standout objects in its encyclopedic collection.
Created by an A:shiwi potter, this k’yabokya de’ele (water jar) highlights the artistic ingenuity of Pueblo women and honors water as a life-giving force for Indigenous communities across the American Southwest. It is also a rare example of A:shiwi artistic production in the early and mid-19th century.
Water jars are ubiquitous forms that store the liquid vital for agriculture and survival in the arid Southwestern climate. The artist formed this vessel by layering long, thin coils of clay from A:shiwi peoples’ ancestral homelands, then smoothing the walls to achieve a highly polished surface. Next, she applied mineral paints and slips to create the striking design before firing the vessel. The imagery depicts geometric architectural forms, which support stylized butterflies. Beings that undergo radical physical transformation—like dragonflies, tadpoles, and butterflies—are common visual motifs on A:shiwi water jars.
CULTURE
A:shiwi (Zuni Pueblo)
MEDIUM
Clay, pigment
DATES
1825–1850
DIMENSIONS
12 3/4 x 12 3/4 in. (31.5 x 33.5 cm) (show scale)
COLLECTIONS
Arts of the Americas
ACCESSION NUMBER
03.325.4723
CREDIT LINE
Museum Expedition 1903, Museum Collection Fund
PROVENANCE
Prior to 1903, provenance not yet documented; by 1903, acquired by Andrew Vanderwagen of Zuni, NM; 1903, purchased in Zuni by Stewart Culin for the Brooklyn Museum.
Provenance FAQ
CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION
Jar, black on white exterior. This oversize water jar has a butterfly design, a symbol often associated with water, set within a large, continuous stepped figure on the body. The neck design consists of a continuous stepped band with curled figures attached. In use it would have a piece of hide stretched and tied across the top, thus accounting for the rough edges on the jar. Red writing on base reads "03.325.4723" and "03.132," partial number is written in black on the side.
Condition: Small hole in base, worn rim
EXHIBITIONS
MUSEUM LOCATION
This item is on view in American Art Galleries, 5th Floor, Trouble the Water
CAPTION
A:shiwi (Zuni Pueblo). K’yabokya de’ele (Water Jar), 1825–1850. Clay, pigment, 12 3/4 x 12 3/4 in. (31.5 x 33.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Expedition 1903, Museum Collection Fund, 03.325.4723. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 03.325.4723_PS22.jpg)
IMAGE
overall, 03.325.4723_PS22.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2024
"CUR" at the beginning of an image file name means that the image was created by a curatorial staff member. These study images may be digital point-and-shoot photographs, when we don\'t yet have high-quality studio photography, or they may be scans of older negatives, slides, or photographic prints, providing historical documentation of the object.
RIGHTS STATEMENT
Creative Commons-BY
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