NATIVE AMERICAN Antique Micaceous Pot - Tiwa Tribe

Description

OVERVIEW
Antique item
This handsome Native American pot, hand built of clay high in mica content, dates to the Late Historic Period, 1880 to 1940. Micaceous clay pots like this one are the only pueblo pottery that can be placed on a stove or fire for cooking. While micaceous clay pottery was made at both Taos and Picuris pueblos in New Mexico, this traditional piece with its metallic luster was made by a member of the Tiwa tribe at Picuris, evidenced by its thin walls and rim. Newer micaceous pottery is thicker and has a brighter red color, achieved by controlling the amount of oxygen in the fire,
On this round pot the decoration consists of six groups of four raised beads each, evenly spaced an inch or so beneath the rim. The blackened areas, known as fire clouds, caused by firing it in the flames, contribute another form of decoration. This piece was made for cooking, not for sale to tourists, so old examples of this type are scarce due to attrition.
Standing 5 inches tall, the pot has a slightly irregularly-shaped mouth about 5 inches across and a round bottom 6 inches across. The only damage we could find is a 1/2 inch wide chip on the rim and a tiny hairline attached to a small chip, also on that vulnerable, thin rim, both shown in our photos. It weighs 1 1/2 pounds and is in otherwise excellent condition, a scarce pueblo antique that's wonderful to own and display.
Note: While this pot glitters with mica on all surfaces, that is difficult to photograph; you can see it best in the photo of the interior of the piece.
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PYH 5103