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About Native American Arts & Crafts
- Production Methods
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- Most if not all pottery made in North America
was constructed using one of five different methods.
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- Coil Method This method employs the use of a clay base with long thin
rolls of clay or coils being added to the base in a spiral fashion. Once overall shape and
dimension is achieved the pot is smoothed using a corncob, smooth rock, shell or even a
gourd shell. The Hopis and Rio Grande Pueblos still use this method today.
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- Coil Method with Paddle & Anvil
This method uses a clay base and long thin rolls
of clay or coils but they are not applied in a spiral fashion. As the coils are
layed into place a paddle is used to thin and compress the seams.
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- Paddle & Anvil The paddle and anvil are used to shape the clay into the
desired shape.
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- Modeling The hands are used to model the clay into the desired shape.
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- Basket Molding This method employs the lining of a basket with the clay.
When the basket and clay are fired the basket of course disappears.
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- The first step in pottery production is the
gathering of their clay. It is important that the clay is of sufficient quality to
provide for a long lasting pot. Inferior clay can result in pottery that does not
withstand the test of time.
- Once the clay is collected the potterer must
clean, dry and pulverize it. At this point the clay is added to water and then
strained to remove any impurities. A piece of sand left it the clay can later spall off
the surface of the pot leaving a pit in the finish. It is also at this stage that
tempering agents are added which help reduce the strain of drying and firing the
finished pot.
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- Once the pot is shaped into the form desired,
dried, and any painting or decorative slips have been applied it will be fired. There are
two types of firing processes oxidations and reduction. In the oxidation method the fire
has access to air which enables it to burn clean and hot. With this method designs or
slips added to the pot will not be clouded by carbon impurities. The reduction
method employs animal manure as a fuel and a smoldering or smothered fire. This methods
results in the release of carbon from the manure which blackens the pottery. The reduction
method is used by Santa Clara and San Ildefonso potterers to make blackware.
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- These methods are still the ones being used
today to make traditional Pueblo pottery.
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