About the Object

This four-color Acoma polychrome olla (water jar) features white slip with black, red, and orange painted decoration. The jar centers on the popularized parrot form that stands beneath the swelling double-banded rainbow. A second parrot sits on the opposite side of the jar and their colors interchange between red and orange. Besides the defining olla (water jar) shape, water and rain imagery is illustrated by the placement of the parrot underneath the rainbow lines. Additionally, rain symbolism is depicted above its head with the flowing black triangular clouds.

Additional Information

The parrot and other bird forms are set in a floral environment as they are surrounded by flowers, split leaves, and berries to eat. Other noteworthy characteristics of this olla include the wavering black-lined rim and its high base.