2012 Divorce appraisal brought this pseudo Zuni terraced bowl to light.
5 3/4″ maximum height X 12 1/2″ maximum diameter, hand-formed polychrome pottery
Initially the bowl’s shiny finish was out of character. The imagery seemed inconsistent with Zuni
ceremonial bowls examined and studied in the past.
Dwight Lanmon, one of two authors of the most recent definitive book on Zuni pottery (2008) concluded the subject bowl was a non-Zuni product. No visible temper in the clay body signaled commercial clay, most likely employed by an Anglo potter.
As a decorative imitation Indian-inspired bowl, its fair market value in 2012 was $300. Had it been an authentic Zuni terraced pottery bowl dating circa 1875, its fair market value would approximate 10 times higher. The subject bowl was likely made during the last quarter of the 20th century.
Did not learn what was paid for the bowl or from whom it was purchased, but it was represented as “the real deal”, not as an imitation.
Corinne Cain
A “good” appraiser has decent instincts, but more importantly locates individuals fluent in the type of item in question. Likely savvy collectors could benefit from the same two attributes.