Posted 6 years ago
pattirox
(4 items)
Mexican pottery given to me by my friend. She said her parents got it in Mexico in the early 1900s. Anybody know it's origin? Thanks!
Anybody Know Its Origin? | ||
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Anybody Know Its Origin? | ||
| Solved mystery items1630 of 11847 | | |
Posted 6 years ago
pattirox
(4 items)
Mexican pottery given to me by my friend. She said her parents got it in Mexico in the early 1900s. Anybody know it's origin? Thanks!
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This is traditional Navajo pottery, from the Cow Springs area of the Navajo Reservation in Arizona. It is hand-coiled from local clay, dried, and fired in a wood bonfire. While it is still hot after being taken out of the fire, it is coated with pinon pine pitch, which gives it the shiny surface, and makes it somewhat water proof.
Potters in the Cow Springs region are said to have started adding the applique designs (the horned toad being one of the most popular) in the late 1950s, when they began making this style of pottery for sale, encouraged by Bill Beaver, the trader at Shonto Trading Post who was largely responsible for the revival of Navajo pottery.
Thank you CanyonRoad! That is very interesting to learn about the process and the whole background of the pottery. You're so helpful!