The history of Catawba pottery as an artistic expression is set within the context of the pottery trade which became a major element in the Indian economy. The story of the pottery trade is also the story of the Catawba people as they have coped with dramatic changes in their culture. Clay became the glue that held the Catawba to their ancient yet alienated lands. Pottery provided a subsistence economy. The basic tools used to produce Catawba pottery are very simple and remain virtually unchanged since pre-Columbian times.
Potters make one hundred different shapes.
Of these, more than forty find their origin in the humble cooking pot. Other traditional pieces include the Rebecca Pitcher, the Cupid Jug, frogs, turtles, the Snake Pot, and Indian Head Peace Pipes. As a result of many complicated cultural and economic miracles, South Carolina is home to a Native American pottery tradition with an unbroken line of descent from pre-Columbian times to the present. Catawba Pottery is still available from the few remaining master potters who learned at the knees of the old masters, such as Salley Brown Gordon and Martha Jane Harris. A new generation of potters has emerged showing much promise and skill with a strong desire to keep the tradition alive.