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.

Pear-shaped. light orange clay owl is has body details hand painted in brownish black and rusty orange over a creamy white slipped background. Stubby slanted wings and rounded flat tail are striped on one side, plain on the other, and the mesh-like feather pattern covers body up to back of head and beak. Within spotted head area, beak extends from between rounded ears across head to small loop over painted open mouth and one of the ringed eyes has only half a brown outline.