Most of my posts from the Cleveland Museum of Art have focused on "white men's art". On my latest visit I decided to begin an exploration of the museum's renowned Asian collection. But on my way to those galleries, I passed through a small collection of Native American art.
One showcase displays pottery from the Southwest ranging from artifacts of ancient cultures to the work of modern artists.
This water jar comes from the Hohokam people whose culture flourished between 900 and 1100 in present day Arizona.
The Hohokam had contact with the civilizations of pre-Hispanic Mexico as evidenced by the platform mounds and ballcourts of their towns.
The Mogollon people lived in present day New Mexico between 1000 and 1150. Their bowls were ritually punctured and placed on the heads of the deceased, perhaps to allow the passage of the soul to the realm of the dead.
This water jar comes from the Anasazi people who lived in the "Four Corners" region (Colorado, Utah, New Mexico and Arizona) between 1100 and 1250.
The Anasazi built grand cliff dwellings, such as those that are found at Mesa Verde and Chaco Canyon. There were perhaps the ancestors of today's Hopi and Zuni tribes.
This jar from the late 1800s is attributed to Nampeyo, a Hopi woman who revived the tradition of pottery making. She based her designs on pottery found at the sites of ancient settlements.
These Hopi water jugs date from around 1890.
This 20th century vessel comes from the Acoma Pueblo of New Mexico.
This plate from the San Ildefonso Pueblo of New Mexico was made by María Martínez, one of the most famous 20th century potters of the Southwest.
Nancy Youngblood Lugo from the Santa Clara Pueblo of New Mexico descends from five generations of potters. She was commissioned by the museum to create this distinctive piece of black pottery with 32 hand-carved ribs.
These woven women's hats from around 1900 come from the Karok and Wintu tribes of California. They protected the wearers from the sun as well as from chafing from the tumplines attached to heavy burdens carried on their backs.
Also from around 1900 is this woven storage bowl from the Pomo people of California.
There are a number of items, dating from the late 1800s and early 1900s which were made by the Tlingit tribe of the Pacific Northwest.
These daggers feature elaborately carved hilts.
This wooden club would have been used for hunting seals and otters. They were often carved in the form of predators, in this case a killer whale.
A wooden mask
This spoon made from bone would have been used at feasts on special occasions.
Finally, this ceremonial garment is made of cedar bark and mountain goat hair.
On the next post from the Cleveland Museum of Art, we will explore the art of Japan.
Lovely examples of Native American art. I used to collect these beautiful kind of items but sold all of them when I left the USA. For years I would go to the inter-tribal ceremonies in Gallup along with traveling to various reservations for the annual corn dances. Absolutely breathtaking to experience. A beautiful culture that is not talked about and admired enough.
ReplyDeleteI have a few nice pieces of Native American pottery from a couple of trips that I took out West years ago. Of course the majority of the pottery and ceramics I have are from Mexico.
DeleteIt is always interesting to read about your visits to museums. I know very little about the artistic manifestations of the native Americans, and for this reason I appreciate your fotographs and the efforts of the museum to preserve their memory.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Tino. I find the cultural similarities between the tribes of the Southwest and those of pre-Hispanic Mexico very intriguing. I don't know if there was direct contact between them or if these influences were passed on by way of other tribes between Mesoamerica and the U.S. Southwest.
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