Native American Pottery: The History and the Craft

Waldrop, L. (2012) Photo from home.

         The Native Americans made pottery for cooking and storage and had many different designs on the pots symbolizing many stories and showing many different patterns. A lot of times, nimals carved and/or painted on the pots were to help with the hunt (Greenman, 2007). Native Americans thought that the animals on the pots would secure a good kill so that they would be fed for another day. Other images in addition animals, were also carved/or painted on their pots, almost always represented some part of what was predominant in their lives. The drawing below is some of the symbols that the pots/bowls might have carved into them.


Brown earthenware clay was molded into a bowl shape by hand and was carved with tools like a rock or bone to make the designs on them. Beeswax and animal fats were used as glazes to water proof the pots and bowls so that they could hold water and other liquids (Greenman, 2007). Then the bowls were placed on rocks in a fire and would harden over time as if it were in a kiln (Susan, 1997)

        To make a bowl you need clay and somewhere you can let it harden, such as a kiln, a fire pit and somewhere safe where it can become bone dry. Kneed the clay, basically push and roll the clay, so you let out all the air bubbles so that your pot or bowl will be less likely to bust, crack or break. To make pinch pots, which were what most Native Americans would have made, you form a ball with the clay then push both thumbs into the ball in the same spot to make it into a bowl shape. Then pinch the bowl into what shape you like and flatten out the bottom. It’s best to have the bowl have a thickness of about a fourth of an inch and it to be even all around. Carve out or stamp patterns or designs on it as you like and put it in a safe place until it’s hard and cold to the touch. It’s best to put it on wood like a board and loosely wrap it in cloth or plastic so it will dry out better and more evenly. After it is bone dry you can put it in the firing spot and give it some time. You can also paint the bowl after it’s done.

Waldrop, L. (2012) Drawing.

       

Greenman, G. (2007, February).  Arts & Activities; Vol. 141 Issue 1, p18-42, 4p. Retrieved December 12, 2012, from the Academic Search Complete database.

Susan, P. (1997) A History of American Indian Pottery. Pottery By American Indian Woman. Retrieved from http://www.cla.purdue.edu/WAAW/peterson/petersonessay2.html