Effigy Dish
Effigy dish - San Ildefonso style Black-on-Black ware; modeled (?); reduction fired; burnished; matte slip painted. Shallow ashtray-like dish in the form of a bird. Body, wings and tail form the dish; solid, modeled head. Interior: burnished surface w. matte slip-painted designs. Bottom surface is unburnished. Slip painted design elements include: clouds, lightning bolts, feathers, kiva steps. There are 6 spots where surface has chipped off.
- Object: Effigy Dish
- Artist: Unknown
- Circa: Mid 20th century
- Dimensions: 4 3/4" long 1 3/4" high
- Culture Area: Southwest
- Cultural Group: Santa Clara
- Cultural Context: "Ashtray" form made for tourist market with the San Ildefonso Black-on-Black technique. Bird effigy shape is symbolic of prayer as are the feather and kiva step designs. Zigzag lightning bolts are symbolic of rain, much needed for crops in the southwest pueblo cultures.
- Donor: Henry, Mrs. Hilda
- Catalog #: 78.476