Owl Figure

Pottery owls became important tourist items when the railroad and then Route 66 allowed for large numbers of tourists to travel to the Southwest. This collection of 192 Zuni pottery owls includes examples from before 1900 through 2006. Zuni potters continue to make owls and family traditions in the medium continue. While many younger potters are innovating, the owls are distinctly Zuni.

In traditional Zuni lore, the owl is considered a wise guardian and protector. An owl’s ability to see at night means that it sees what others cannot, giving it understanding of the spiritual and physical world.

Egg-shaped, highly burnished clay owl is slipped a creamy white with body detailing in brownish black and rusty red. Entire body is covered with linked-U feather motifs while wings and tail are thickly striped on one side, spotted on the other. Head takes up half of body with large conical ears, bulging eyes with three parallel lashes at outer corner and a hooked beak with fringed triangular design at top.