Lot 22, Auction 4/20/2026: Mississippian Caddo Incised Redware Avery Jar

$1,430.00

In stock

Native American, Southeast United States, Mississippian culture, Caddo, Avery tradition, Red River County, Texas, ca. 1200 to 1400 CE. A Mississippian Caddo pottery Avery jar of commanding presence, its warm red surface and crisply incised rim design expressing the disciplined geometry and refined restraint that define Caddo ceramic tradition at its height. The vessel is tall and gently tapering, with a rounded base rising to a slightly flaring rim. The surface is carefully smoothed and fired to a rich red-brown tone, a hallmark of Avery phase pottery from the Red River region. Encircling the upper body is a single incised decorative band composed of repeating triangles and angled lines, cut cleanly through the slip to expose the lighter clay beneath. The motif reads as both architectural and rhythmic, creating a measured visual cadence that wraps the vessel without overwhelming its form. Size: 9″ Diameter x 9.9″ H (22.9 cm x 25.1 cm)

Avery jars are among the most recognizable ceramic forms produced by the ancestral Caddo peoples during the Mississippian period. Their elegance lies in proportion and precision rather than excess ornament. The restrained decoration emphasizes the vessel’s silhouette and reflects a sophisticated understanding of balance between surface and shape. Such jars were likely used for storage or ceremonial purposes and were integral to daily and ritual life along the Red River.

Caddo potters were among the most accomplished ceramic artists in pre-Columbian North America, known for their technical control, thin walls, and refined decorative systems. The Avery tradition, in particular, represents a mature phase of Caddo pottery, where incised designs became standardized yet remained deeply expressive through subtle variation and confident execution. This jar stands as a strong example of Mississippian Caddo craftsmanship from Red River County, Texas, embodying both cultural continuity and aesthetic clarity. Its presence is quiet but assured, a vessel shaped by utility, tradition, and an enduring sense of form.

Condition: Some small areas or repair and minor restoration and repainting to rim. A few nicks and abrasions to surface commensurate with age. Otherwise, excellent with nicely preserve decoration. Old collection labels on underside of base. Base is inscribed with find site, date, and person, as well as another old collection number.

Provenance: private Denver, Colorado, USA collection

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