The Dr. Samuel R. Poliakoff Collection of Western Art

During the last quarter of the twentieth century there were probably more Acoma potters working than at any other period of history. This was due to the immense popularity of this type of pottery. Some of the oft-used designs of the era were adapted from Mimbres pottery, a type of pottery made in the southwestern portion of New Mexico between 850-1150AD. Potters are known to study books for inspiration and a few individuals have examined Mimbres bowls. While potters might borrow ideas from photographs, the translating of a two dimensional image to the three dimensional surface can be difficult.