Bowl with Interlocking Zigzag Motif in Four-Part Design on Interior Walls
950–1400
Medium
Ceramic and pigment
Dimensions
14 × 29.2 cm (5 1/2 × 11 1/2 in.)
Classification
bowl
Department
Arts of the Americas
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
52127
Art Historical Context
This striking ceramic bowl, by Ancestral Pueblo artists 950 and 0 CE, showcases the pottery traditions of the Southwest. Measuring just over11 inches across, vessel features a bold interlocking motif arranged in a four-part design on its walls. Painted with pigment on ceramic surface, the geometric patterns reflect the culture’s deep appreciation for balance and repetition, qualities often seen in Ancestral Pueblo wares from this period. Such bowls were both functional and expressive, likely used for serving food or in communal ceremonies. The choice to decorate the interior rather than the e...