
Horned or plumed serpents, mythical entities associated with the life-giving power of water, have an ancient history in the art of the American Southwest, Midwest, and Southeast. On the shoulder of this vessel, twin highly abstract serpents stretch out from a central point, from which rises a series of superimposed stepped chevrons. The chevron is a symbolic motif widely associated with mountains, springs, rivers, and rising thunderstorms. The overall composition of this jar suggests the symbolic representation of a sacred landscape and the ritual summoning of water.

Bowl with Large Diamond-Shaped Area Interior with Dotted Lines and Diamonds, and Interlocking Stepped Motifs
Ancestral Pueblo (Anasazi), possibly St. John's Black-on-white West-central New Mexico, United States

Dipper or Ladle with Interlocking Zigzag and Step-Fret Designs
Ancestral Pueblo (Anasazi), Black-on-white West-central New Mexico, United States

Bowl with Bold Black-on-White Diamond and Zizgag Motifs
Ancestral Pueblo (Anasazi) West-central New Mexico, United States