riff@bbs.slv.org on sat 1 mar 97
Peggy Heer's post about the pit fired pots prevailing against
the elements raised in my mind a question I've had for some
time concerning the work of early American Southwestern potters.
In museums I see pit fired pots that are described as "water
jars". It has been my experience that clay that is not
vitrified will absorb moisture and eventually flake apart.
One of the first things to go would be the burnished decoration
on the outside as moisture and salts and other stuff start to
leech out from the inside.
Did they line their pots with something? Were these water jars
disposable? Did the "water jars" in the museums ever really
have water in them?
Gavin Stairs on tue 4 mar 97
At 11:58 AM 01/03/97 EST, you wrote:
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>Peggy Heer's post about the pit fired pots prevailing against
>the elements raised in my mind a question I've had for some
>time concerning the work of early American Southwestern potters.
>In museums I see pit fired pots that are described as "water
>jars". It has been my experience that clay that is not
>vitrified will absorb moisture and eventually flake apart.
>One of the first things to go would be the burnished decoration
>on the outside as moisture and salts and other stuff start to
>leech out from the inside.
>Did they line their pots with something? Were these water jars
>disposable? Did the "water jars" in the museums ever really
>have water in them?
It is my understanding that such pots, if used for water pots, were usually
sealed with natural resins (e.g., tree saps from resinous softwoods). This
resin was a commonly used adhesive among all the first nations people. It
might be tempered with animal fat, and would have been applied warm,
probably when the pot was still warm from the fire. The resin would have
been applied to the interior of the pot. The exterior, bearing the
decoration, would not have been treated. The pot would therefore have
suffered a gradual dissolution from water absorbed during dipping, and
gradual delamination from efflorescence and deposited salts. However, I
imagine they must have had a reasonable useful life from such pots, probably
a number of years. Most were probably lost to breakage before deterioration
became serious. I imagine many pots were also used for dry storage.
Perhaps a water pot suffering some deterioration might be used as a storage
vessel. Some people also wove waterproof baskets, which were sealed in the
same way. They must have had an even shorter life, but they would have been
much lighter to carry. When you have to carry your water a long way, the
primary problem with a absorbent pot would be the extra weight of the wet pot.
Note also that pots can be sealed with many protein sealers, like milk,
blood serum and hide/tendon glue. You can also seal a pot by cooking in it.
Gavin
Dannon Rhudy on tue 4 mar 97
----------------------------Original
message----------------------------
Did they line their pots with something? Were these water jars
disposable? Did the "water jars" in the museums ever really
have water in them?......
The insides of the pots were well burnished, to help seal them for
containing liquids.
Dannon Rhudy
Evan Dresel on tue 4 mar 97
At 11:58 AM 3-1-97 EST, you wrote:
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>Peggy Heer's post about the pit fired pots prevailing against
>the elements raised in my mind a question I've had for some
>time concerning the work of early American Southwestern potters.
>In museums I see pit fired pots that are described as "water
>jars". It has been my experience that clay that is not
>vitrified will absorb moisture and eventually flake apart.
>One of the first things to go would be the burnished decoration
>on the outside as moisture and salts and other stuff start to
>leech out from the inside.
>Did they line their pots with something? Were these water jars
>disposable? Did the "water jars" in the museums ever really
>have water in them?
>
Well my Acoma water jar has wear marks around the top that are
consistent with grabbing the rim to lift the pot in one hand while
using a dipper with the other. Got some little dings in the rim
from the dipper, too. This isn't a museum piece but I'm convinced
that the water jars were used as such until quite recently. Hey,
flower pots last a long time in much harsher conditions and are
plenty porous.
-- Evan Dresel In eastern Washington State where the wind and rain
saved me from getting on the tractor to help a neighbor
and let me spend some more time in the studio.
Emily Henderson on wed 5 mar 97
I have been pit-firing for some time. I wanted to see how my colors would
survive (vs. raku) and have had pots outside for ...gee it's about 2 years
now. The raku pot has split and flaked. One of the pitfired pieces split,
the rest are fine and the color is fine where the raku piece has gone
somewhat blue. My pitfired pots have lots of red and orange so I'm happy,
Oh, it rains here. It rains a lot here. The raku piece faces west so it's
had some crueler wind exposurre but the pitfired pieces haven't been
protected by a porch roof and they seem to be in better shape. Both have
been pummelled time and agin by the biggest hail I've ever seen. Hope this
helps. Emily in Astoria OR where, it's raining.
SWIFT TB on sun 16 mar 97
Maybe the Navite Americans used zip lock bags, No really I don't undestand
how you could burnish a pot on the inside...Maybe some of the larger pots
but not the ones with the small necks.. Help!!!
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