Traditional Zia Design

Traditional Zia Design

On typical Zia Pueblo jars, the traditional Zia design pattern consists of three primary colors: mineral red and beeweed black on a slipped yellow-beige background. Traditionally, the base of the piece is well-slipped with red (the Earth band). There is often a red or black band around the rim (the sky band). In between, on the yellow-beige background, red and/or black images and symbols are painted in designs around the body.

The traditional design around the body consists of a flowing red ribbon, alternating up and down to make four panels around the piece. That's the rainbow which flows around at least two traditional roadrunner figures holding sprigs of yucca flowers in their claws. Sometimes there are two roadrunners below and two above that ribbon.

Rising from the Earth band, hanging from the sky band and attached to the rainbow ribbon are usually symbols evocative of clouds, rainfall and healthy cornfields. Those symbols can be sprinkled liberally around a pot, too.

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