Bowl 1360 - 1450

This bowl, made by Cibola artists, features a captivating interplay of geometric patterns and forms. The bowl commands our attention through its striking use of contrasting colors – the warm reddish-brown juxtaposed against stark black and white, creating a visually arresting surface. The upper register presents a complex arrangement of shapes, from spirals and hatched triangles to horizontal bands that encircle the rim. Below, the body of the bowl is adorned with bolder, more assertive geometric motifs in black and red that seem to dance across its curved form. This surface becomes a field for semiotic investigation; these shapes may represent cultural symbols that were understood by the community for which it was intended. The formal organization of this bowl, however, invites us to consider the broader artistic and philosophical concerns. Are the patterns purely decorative or do they carry deeper symbolic weight? The bowl's composition challenges fixed meanings and engages with new ways of thinking about space and representation. As we contemplate the bowl, we recognize that its aesthetic function is deeply intertwined with its role within a larger cultural discourse.