One would have thought that, in making their clay pots, which were primarily planned to serve useful purposes, and were, moreover, somewhat perishable, no attention would have been given to decoration; yet this is far from being the case. Bowls, cups, and cauldrons, water-jars and bottles (see Figs. [61] and [62]) were often elaborately incised with beautiful and intricate designs. The forms, too, were simple and good.
The black pitcher on the right is of Santa Clara ware. Beside it is a water-cooler or tenaja made by a Zuñi.]
The black pitcher on the right is of Santa Clara ware. Beside it is a water-cooler or tenaja made by a Zuñi.
The clay used at first was such as could be found almost anywhere near the surface, and consequently was full of impurities. Later, however, clean clays were much sought after, and no pains were spared to grind and work them into good condition. This was done with the feet or hands, or both. As the craft advanced, potters began to temper their clay with other ingredients, according to the use to which the vessel was to be put. For instance, the clay for toys and the smaller vessels needed no tempering. Pipes were made of such clay, or of one tempered with a finely ground substance, while cooking-pots and cauldrons, which were subjected to constant heat, were made of clay containing a large amount of coarser tempering ingredients. Some of the tempering agents were rock, sand, pulverised shell, bits of baked pottery, cinders, ashes of bark, and even raw vegetal materials. The heat at which the pieces were fired was rarely strong enough to change any of the mineral substances in the clay.
