National Republican., 1881-11-05
INDIAN POTTERY.
Relies in the Smithsonian Institution-
Aboriginal Enrthen Vessels.

Aboriginal Enrtien vessels.
A lady who has been examining the
indian pottery in the Smithsonian Institute says;
Take one Of those specimens Of savage art and
compare II with fine Dresden or Sevres vase or n
porcelain plate and one win not be likoly toseeany
beauty In the rude, unglazed, and often mispro-
portioned vessel OF the Indian, and there may be
nothing that modern artist might wish to copy
yet when one pauses to reflect that the rough ves-
sci Is the work Of an uncultured Indian, and the
other the result Of years of the highest civilization
he will sec much to admire, and will be seized
with desire to know more about 1t and about
the maker
THE ANCIENT INDIAN
was better artist than the modern one is for the
latter has been brought so near to civilized COM
munities, or rather civilization has crawled up so
close to him. that for him to expond so much
time and skill upon frail eathern vessel when
for few skins or trnkets he can purchase nm iron
one much more durable, seems useless. To knead
Iumpof olay, temper It with sand. aud dry IL In
the sun or bake Il by the heat seems TO be
one OF the earliest arts among mon. Prior
10 liv2 the aborigines Of this country used only
earthen vessels-thnt is rs far rs can be ascer-
tained. Somc Of the pottery taken from the
mounds found in different parts of the country
are supposed to have been made in the twelfth
century. This date is fixed by the size and growth
OF trees found above them.
"coFFfN-JARs' AND OTHER VESSELS
have been found under the tangled Jungles and
canebnkes of the overflowcd bottom lands of
Georga, and water.jars and seed-vessels have
Deen uncovered from places whcro II was sup
posed the foot OF man had never trod. The re-
cent discoveries Of pottery have been chiefly
among the Pueblo Indians Tor those tribes living
In villages or pueblos), inhablting Arizona and
New Mexico The Moquis and Zunis are the
most important of those tribes and are what
are called seml-oivilized Indians. They are
supposed TO be among the tribes which
were visited in 1910 by Coronado, who len many
OF the domestic animals among them. This Is
also inferred from the fact of their useful vessels
being ornamented with the forms of fowls and
auimals unknown to the wild Indian. Ifthey
had never seen pig how could they mould
water-jar In the exact shape of one-and spotted
pig, at that, with curcd tail2
IN THIS COLLECTION THERE IS
large bowl decorated with the familiar form of
adonkey (and this bowl is the only specimen
found bearing this device). Many Of their water
Jars are made In the form of q duck. and. while
the owl seems to be the favorirc design, chanu
cleer has not been neglected The antelope is
another favorite design and is frequently painted
upon their larger vessels. One is rather
surprised to find salt boxes aud small
vessels made In the form of n
shoe-not moCcasin, butmorc like sack coming
up high around the ankle. Some OF the pitchers
are of such symmetry and beauty of form mod
eron artist might not improve upon them. Tea
pots-or rather water-ars for the cups that cheer
but not inebriate,"
WERE PROBABLY UNKNOWN
to them-of the same shape and size as japanese
teapots exposed for sale in every frst-class
crockery story Some Of the baskets are OF grace
ful form, with curved handles and scalloped edges
and are painted with beetles and flowers. Mrs.
Stevenson, In her paper entitled "Zuni and the
Zunians" asserts they are sacred baskets and ln-
tended to contain the meal used in the religious
ceremonies. Bowls, cups, c9nteens, water jars,
toys, and dolls are all ornamcncd in various ways.
These articles are all ungazed as Indian
pottery usually is. They arc mado alto
gether by the women of the tribe,
and must have required some experience and skill
In the manufacture, and as they had few tools TO
work with, the result is really wonderful. Some
of the pottery is perfectly black and highly pol
ished Il is said by those familiar with the subject
that this black color is due TO the burning aud not
| to the color of the clay used in making them The
large water-jars of this black ware, with bulging
sides and auted necks, are really quite handsome.
| ANOTHER CURIOUS KIND OF WARE
made by these Indians is called corrugated pot
| terry 1t requires great care and skill In making
| 1t. The clay is laid on In thrcad-like layer
until the vessel assumes the shape desired II is
| then smothered and nssimilated from the inside,
leaving the rough ridges intact upon the outside.
lthas been held that the Indian has no apprccia-
tive sense Of the humorous. This may be true,
or he may have 1t and gnoranty considers 1t un-
manly to indulge in anything like frivolity,
and 1t would seem almost impossible for any one
to gaze upon the grotesque forms given to many
of their useful and ornamental vessels without
becoming impressed with the idea that there was
considerable humor around, aud when the def
| fingers moulded the clay smile must have
wreathed the lips,
| WHICH, LIKE THE LOUD GUFFAw
| of Artemus Ward, while writing his humorous
stories, was indicative of the spirit of fun with.
In. The dolls Of the Moqui Indians are very com
ical TO look at The faces as stocal as all the
Indian faces are. The stomachs are very fat, and
the hands with digits extended are invariably
made pressing upon them. These Indians seem
| to have had only two colors for painting and Or
namentlng their wares, viz brown and dull red.
They were not sparing In the use of 1t and besides
| painting birds fish. insects and flowers upon
their bowls and jars, covered them with Grecian
lines and borders. One noticeable feature about
their water jars and canteens is the loop or han
die upon either side, and through which cord or
strip Of skin could be passed 10 suspend them from
the shoulders. As water was ofen n distance from
| their dwellings, and must be carried for the daily
supply, ii is hot surprising that there should be
found more water jars among their pottery than
any other kiud of vessel.