Native American Ceramics Facts

Histories resources native american pueblo pottery art history.
Native american ceramics facts. Nampeyo is credited with the revival of a prehistoric hopi pottery type named sikyatki after an archaeological site near first mesa. Native american ceramics have been preserved for many years. For generations skilled native indian artisans have practiced and honed their skills in creating beautiful native american rainbow color band etched horse hair navajo indian pottery. As with most early pottery native american pottery was born out of necessity and its uses included cooking storing grains and holding water.
As time went on coil pottery became more and more elaborate in the southwest. For a further discussion of the visual art of the americas produced in the period after european contact see latin american art. In pit firing the pot is placed in a shallow pit dug into the earth along with other unfired pottery covered with wood and brush or dung then set on fire whereupon it can harden at temperatures of 1400 degrees or more. Nancy wagner is a marketing strategist and speaker who started writing in 1998.
Today many native american ceramic artists use kilns. On first mesa there is a long tradition of pottery making that was ultimately shaped by the master potter nampeyo at the turn of the 20th century. Native american pottery is one of the few heritage vestiges that have survived a bygone era. She writes business plans for startups and established companies and teaches marketing and promotional tactics at local workshops.
Brightly colored clay slips and stone polishing came into fashion around 1200 and polychrome pottery pottery decorated with more than 2 colors was in high demand around the region at that time. A little later in native history decorative designs began to appear on native american pottery. It s thought that native americans began with covering cooking baskets made of woven casings with mud. This lesson will focus on the history of native american pottery and facts about pottery making and the symbolism used in decoration.