Native American Indians knew all about pottery!

Native American pottery is an ancient one, dating back some two thousand years as far as modern science has been able to document. How they discovered that clay, when heated at high temperatures, could transform into an object that’s brittle and holds its shape is a mystery. Some scholars venture that the technique came to the early southwest from Mesoamerica. Others contend that the technique originated into the southwestern cultures independently. Antique Native American pottery is difficult to date, so we may never know.

Native American Indians never used a potter’s wheel to create their pottery. The base starts out as a slab of clay that’s the same thickness of the finished pot.

Native American pottery is hand made, most often, by rolling out coils of clay and winding them up to form the body. Instead of starting at the sides of the pot, coiling begins on the upper surface of the base. After the first coiled row is formed, any excess is trimmed and the outer edge is formed upward, with the clay welded row by row. The thumb is used on the inner surface moving downward and the fingers on the outer surface moving upwards. Welding the thick coils causes the pot walls to thin and expand outward. They are then pressed together by hand, or by applying a paddle.

Clay work has always been considered as the ideal medium of expression for Native American women. Pottery was also a crucial element of tribal rituals in the community. The way in which these pots were handled also had spiritual and emotional significance. This was another art form which was solely practiced by the Native American women. It’s some of the most beautiful pottery found any where on the earth.

Native American pottery is one of the most sought-after contemporary art forms in the world today. In the past, American Indian pottery was made with the purpose of using it. Some pots played important roles in ceremonies, but the vast majority served more mundane purposes. Pottery was often used for cooking, storage, and transporting necessities. Despite the fact that American Indian pottery was made for the purpose of being used, there are many similarities between today’s pottery and the pottery of the past. Whether they intended it or not, may ancient pottery pieces are beautiful pieces of artwork. In fact, ancient pottery pieces are often valuable and considered a treasure.

Many Native American Tribes made pottery. The most popular are Navajo pottery, Hopi pottery and Cherokee pottery. These same tribes made all their own Native American jewelry which is very popular and sought after today.

Native American pottery is a beautiful and seductive art form which draws fans from all over the world. It’s admired for its utilitarian characteristics as well as the sheer artistry and skill that enabled American Indians to create these vessels with nothing more than clay, water, and their hands.