| Indian pottery, like that made by the | | | | certainly appreciate the hard work that goes |
| Tarahumara and Tigua Tribes, is a wonderful | | | | into making Indian pottery. You will find the |
| way to bring true southwestern style to your | | | | way pottery is made very fascinating. Made by |
| home decor. The earthen clay is not only able | | | | hand, the potter uses the coil and pinch |
| to withstand years of use but is also what | | | | method without the use of a pottery wheel. |
| gives the pottery that popular rustic look. | | | | Pottery making is begun by first finding the |
| The way of making this beautiful pottery has | | | | clay and then grinding it to a fine powder |
| been passed down throughout the generations | | | | using a stone metate. Water is then added to |
| and is still made today as it has been for | | | | the clay powder and brought to the right |
| centuries. If you are like me and love | | | | thickness. A piece is cut for the foundation |
| American Indian pottery, you will definitely | | | | of the pot and then clay coils are molded |
| like holding a piece of this unique art in | | | | together to build up the sides. The tools the |
| your hands, imagining the effort that goes | | | | Tarahumaras use for cleaning and smoothing |
| into creating such unique pottery. If you are | | | | the pot are nothing more than pieces of |
| interested in collecting Indian pottery, you | | | | gourd, stone or wood. They then fire the pot |
| will find many types and might even discover | | | | in a shallow hole after it has dried in the |
| a few that you never knew existed. From | | | | open air. The fired pot is then painted with |
| rustic style pieces of Tarahumara pottery | | | | traditional items like a feather, the fingers |
| with dark earth tone colors to beautiful art | | | | or a cloth-wrapped stick and a variety of |
| pieces, made by the Tigua Indians, you will | | | | paints like red ochre, iron oxide or |
| definitely not have a problem choosing | | | | hematite. Owning American Indian pottery, |
| something you like. The variety of pottery is | | | | whether a roughly made Tarahumara pot, a |
| exciting for collectors because there is so | | | | brilliantly painted piece by the Tigua Indian |
| much available. The most interesting part of | | | | Tribe, or sophisticated artwork like Mata |
| purchasing genuine Native Indian pottery is | | | | Ortiz, is truly a wonderful privilege and |
| the fact that it has always played a part in | | | | allows you to experience American Indian |
| Indian lifestyle. Recently, pottery | | | | culture in the most authentic way. You can |
| collecting has seen a renewed interest | | | | buy beautiful Indian pottery online, and in |
| because of the revival of traditional Mata | | | | pottery shops and many stores that sell |
| Ortiz pottery found in the northern part of | | | | southwestern decorating accessories. If you |
| Mexico. Many pieces of Indian pottery can be | | | | want to be part of the exciting rebirth of |
| used both to cook with or to add as part of a | | | | Indian pottery collecting and add Native |
| collection. Many of the Tarahumara pots or | | | | American style to your home, try decorating |
| ollas as they are known as, are used to | | | | with original pieces of hand-crafted Indian |
| prepare beans, corn and other traditional | | | | pottery. |
| Native American dishes. The pots are | | | | |
| utilitarian in design and come in various | | | | Craig Chambers is the director of Mission Del |
| sizes and shapes that determine how that | | | | Rey and offers free information online about |
| particular pot will be used. No matter which | | | | choosing Indian pottery for rustic style |
| type of pottery you buy, whether to be used | | | | decorating. |
| for both cooking and decorating, you will | | | | |