How Pottery is Made

Although each tribe have their own styles and techniques, all pottery have similar beginnings.

• The potter goes out to gather the clay and other materials for the slip, paint, and temper.

• A temper is mixed with the clay to make it stronger

• The potter inserts a flat clay base into a puki saucer

• The rest of the clay is rolled into ropes

• A rope of clay is then laid on the rim of the base and pinched together.

• Subsequent clay ropes are coiled on top of each other to make a basic shape

• With their hands and other shaping tools the potter smooths out the clay

• Impressions are made in the clay at this point if that is what the potter is creating (a style unique to the Santa Clara).

• The shaped clay is then dried in the sun and scraped with thin tools or sanded with sandpaper or pumice

• Then, depending on the tribe and potter, a slip is applied and then polished with a cloth or polishing stone. If paint is to be added it goes on top of the polished slip.

• If applicable, sgraffito is added at this point in the process

• The pots are then placed on rocks or on a metal grate and surrounded by sticks. Metal pieces are then placed around the kiln, and the metal is covered by cow patties. (a technique common for San Ildefonso pottery)

• Other tribes might use coal as a firing fuel if it is available in their area.

• Polychrome and redware are fired in a free burning bonfire as the oxygen keeps the natural colors

• For blackware, the fire is smothered at peak temperature with horse manure and covered in wood ashes to keep out air. The lack of oxygen causes the decomposition of the carbon, which gives blackware its stunning color.

See the video below for the visual process of creating blackware.

As demonstrated by Marvin Martinez, the great grandson of Maria Martinez.