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.

Hand coiled orange clay pottery owl. Details are hand painted in brown and red on a white slipped background. Squat body is covered with semi-circular feather patterning. Wings and tail have thickly outlined edges and stripes on one side. Short conical ears and a thick loop beak project up from head. Small pupils sit within a larger outlined circle fringed with eyelashes of varied lengths. There is a tiny hole beneath tail.