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