Pot with Incised and Cut-out Decoration

Lorraine Williams, Pot with Incised and Cut-out Decoration, ca. 1992, fired clay with piñon pitch and slip, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Chuck and Jan Rosenak and museum purchase made possible by Ralph Cross Johnson, 1997.124.182
Lorraine Williams, Pot with Incised and Cut-out Decoration, ca. 1992, fired clay with piñon pitch and slip, 13 3⁄8 x 14 3⁄4 in. (34.1 x 37.6 cm) diam., Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Chuck and Jan Rosenak and museum purchase made possible by Ralph Cross Johnson, 1997.124.182

Artwork Details

Title
Pot with Incised and Cut-out Decoration
Artist
Date
ca. 1992
Location
Dimensions
13 3⁄8 x 14 3⁄4 in. (34.1 x 37.6 cm) diam.
Credit Line
Gift of Chuck and Jan Rosenak and museum purchase made possible by Ralph Cross Johnson
Mediums
Mediums Description
fired clay with piñon pitch and slip
Classifications
Subjects
  • Abstract — geometric
  • Object — other — vase
Object Number
1997.124.182
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1997.124.182

Artwork Description

Lorraine Williams carves Navajo symbols into the surface of her clay pots. The geometric pattern on this pot may have been inspired by traditional basket designs, which often include zigzags and triangles. Williams originally applied plant dyes to the surface of her clay pieces. Her father disapproved, however, because these were the same dyes used in ceremonial face painting, so she now uses commercial pigments.

Works by this artist (12 items)

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A. Mouron Cassandre, Integration, from the Early Series, 1937, gouache and scratchwork on prepared paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Container Corporation of America, 1984.124.54
Integration, from the Early Series
Artist
Date1937
gouache and scratchwork on prepared paper
Not on view
A. Mouron Cassandre, First in Development, from the Early Series, 1937, gouache on paperboard, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Container Corporation of America, 1984.124.52
First in Development, from the Early Series
Artist
Date1937
gouache on paperboard
Not on view
A. Mouron Cassandre, Versatility, from the Early Series, 1937, gouache on paperboard, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Container Corporation of America, 1984.124.60
Versatility, from the Early Series
Artist
Date1937
gouache on paperboard
Not on view
A. Mouron Cassandre, Unity, from the Early Series, 1937, gouache on paperboard, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Container Corporation of America, 1984.124.59
Unity, from the Early Series
Artist
Date1937
gouache on paperboard
Not on view

More Artworks from the Collection

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Walton Ford, Tur, 2007, watercolor and gouache on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the American Art Forum and Nion T. McEvoy, 2008.4A-C, © 2007, Walton Ford
Tur
Artist
Date2007
watercolor and gouache on paper
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Sean Scully, Munich 3.18.09, 2009, watercolor on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the artist, 2011.7.1, © 2009, Sean Scully
Munich 3.18.09
Artist
Date2009
watercolor on paper
Not on view