New-York tribune., 1879-11-29
PUEBLO POTTERY FROM NEB-MEXICO.


RESULTS OF AN EXPLORATION CONDUCTED BY THE
SMITHSONIAN INsIITUuoN-THE PROCESS OF
MANUFACTURE AND DECoRArIoN-A PRIVATE
COLLECTION ~ PHILADELPHIA.
lFRoM An OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF TIE TRIBUNE
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 27.-The Smithsonian
Institution recently sent a small party OF ethnologists
into New-McxIco for the purpose OF exploring the
Pueblo Of the valleys Of the Rio San Juaa
and the Rio Grande del Norie and of making extensive
collections antiquities and objects OF aboriginal inter-
the National Museum at Washington. The party,
while in the vicinity visited the ancient town Of Zui.
where they have succeeded in gathering together up
ward OF two thousand specimens OF modern pottery,
stone implements. images, costumes. etc. Mr. Killers,
the former photographer of Major j. w. POwel's sur
veys. has taken large number of photographs OF the
town aud macy Indian scenes, and Mr. Frank II. Cush
ing is st engaged in making copiOus notes or the
hubts and customs Of the Interesting natives. Scat
tered through the valley OF the Rio Grande del Norte
are nineteen Pueblo villages. which in existence
long before the discovery OF America and the inhab
ants this day preserve their Old traditions and arts
comparatively unm0uenced by the innovations OF civil
iZation.
The pottery manufactured in the town Of Zuf is
ceedingy interesting. and is almost Identical with the
very ancient which Is found among the stone ruins
which abound throughout that section. Attention has
been called to this by Lieutenant \. W. Whippl IN
the third volume Of the Pacific Railroad Reports and more
recently by Professor f. v Hayden, his last annual
report OF the United states Geological survey of the
Territories tS76l In the latter are figured several fine
water vessels the forms OF owls. hawks. ducks and
domestcaied fowls The collection made by the Smith
souian party includes many animal and hundreds
of specmens OF almost every conceivable shape,
scarcely any Of them being similar. IL Is, without
exception. the finest and most complete collection Of
modern Pueblo ware in existence The methods OF
manufacturing this pottery exceedingly interesting,
and study OF them throws much Light on the ancient
Pueblo art which produced the most superior abOrg-
NAL ware vet discovered within the limits Of the United
States Tho clay is procured from the neighborlng
mesas and the vessels moulded entirely by hand.
When an unusually fine piece Is being made, tie clay Is
wet and smootned J the lips OF the potter, who then
sets the vesse aside 20 dry. The paint is put on by a
brush and then burned IN surrounded with dry
manure.
In the Pueblo Of Lacuna pottery is made in similar
manner private collection. inst received in Philade'
mia from there contains number OF vessels in mita-
ton Of ducks setting hens. etc such objects while
pamentai are designed for also. and are employed
IN carrying water journeys. common ornament
on this is painted representation OF the elk or
decr i'm which a passage invariably extends from the
mouth to the heart which latter j. OF triangular form
The teuahas, earihcn basins, are used s eceptaccs
tnfc the food the natives one very OLD vessel Is
covered with representations OF sudkcs, rare figure IN
tne Pueblo since the priests
Iaedciue longer permit the people TO employ the
upolS nilt mOuupuiiIe tntn IN fnelr
mcantations and stately ceremonies IcDahas are made
~ Sizes FROM iucl III diam"tcr 10 those that Will
hold from twenty to thirty GOns. Each large vessel
has a concave bottom ike "A cnampaSnc-botte, Tor
scadying II the head In carrying water from the
well.
tory Is OF dark slate color and exceedingly compact,
offcrtmes approaching soft rock IN texture. This IL
iasrn '.0u seams veins in.thc mesa walls. The
Indi scak this clay IN water Tor two or three days.
when 10 becomes perfectly plastic 10 j. then kneaded
with the feet OF tine wOrkmcn on large nat stone, and
al the lrd Ian ps are taken out careiully After the
nnu t.ti In Al ID
over this there are painted iancnli devices
iu red orange and black The lustre OF
before baking. with an exceedingly smooth stone Ike an
ordinary seashore pebble. The brown or black pigment
T. made from "a black stone sOmt what resembling hem
ntlte This II ground rue. mixed with water ana vlO-
Ieufv acttated time. 1t l. then poured from
one vesse 10 another to remove all grit and IS applied
I'm fhe surface OF the vessel 10 be oruamented.
Inn 10 prevent this mixed wlth the residue OF
two plants or weeds boiled together for a
Sni1ed consistency. after whicl allowed cool
n then becomes perfectly hard The clay employed Tor
the red color IL OF ycOvish tint. but ON heng baked
changes "a brilliant red The process or burning or
haiug consists first placing the vessels Stones.
around which packed quantity OF dry 6any ard ma
ufre which IL considered the best fuel The vessel II
covered completely with tins substance rs TO exclude
rne arr and ytry hot fire Of tnree hours dura-
ton is produced During the process OF burning the YES
closely watched ana no portion 1l them Is per-
mltted 10 become exposed 10 the atmosphere
The pottery OF Laguna and IN fact or most or the
other Pueblo villages, Is almost entirely made by the
yemen who expend much Of their leisure lime In mould
tnr and decorating The The particular interest
which AT u the Pueblo pottery IS IN the act tnat
tbe Sc pcope OF NewMexco and the Moquis OF Arizona
are ne only aboriginal tribes in the United states that
SIN practice their old arts uuchapged by the Influences
of CIVILIZATION. The report OF the sm man eNpedi-
tion NewMexico, 1t Is believed Will appear about
January 1.