Lorri on sat 14 oct 00
I am taking a Ceramics class and one of the assignments is to do a
historical reproduction. Searching the internet, I found a lovely piece
done circa 1900-1930 by the Picuris Pueblo. The second half of the
assignment is to do a 4 minute presentation about the piece. The
presentation isn't supposed to have to be a big deal but I can't seem to
find much information. I have searched the internet but haven't found much
except that the Picuris Pueblo do not use ornamenation on their pots like is
traditionally thought of with Pueblo pottery. They used micaceous clay
which turned black when fired so they didn't really need to use terra sig to
burnish the pots. Otherwise, I haven't found a lot of information. I am
hoping for anyone who might have information on the Picuris Pueblos pottery
process or might know a source where I can find it.
Thanks in advance,
Lorri
Lizacat29@AOL.COM on sat 14 oct 00
Picuris and Taos Pueblos both make the micaceous pottery to widen your
references for research. Also, I have a beautiful book, Southwestern
Pottery, Anasazi to Zuni bu Allan Hayes and John Blom. It is written from a
collectors viewpoint but has a couple pages of good information about Picuris
and Taos pottery and great photos.
Karin Hurt on sat 14 oct 00
if you are looking for micasious clay, "Ceramic King" (new name NEW MEXICO
CLAY) makes a copy what they find in nature around Taos Pueblo. I've bought
their red mica clay, but never pit fired it. It wasn't a big seller, but is
nice to work with.
Karin
Snail Scott on sat 14 oct 00
At 10:35 AM 10/14/00 EDT, you wrote:
>if you are looking for micasious clay, "Ceramic King" (new name NEW MEXICO
>CLAY) makes a copy what they find in nature around Taos Pueblo. I've bought
>their red mica clay, but never pit fired it. It wasn't a big seller, but is
>nice to work with.
>Karin
Don't try to do your reproduction Picuris pot without
using a micaceous clay body. The mica is what allows the
pots to be fired in the open without a kiln, and to
withstand the thermal stresses of cooking. You can add
mica to an favorite red earthenware (flake mica, not
powdered - the function is similar but the look is not)
or buy a preprepared mica body like the one Karin mentions.
I recall that the New Mexico Clay product is a ^06 body.
The Picuris/Taos/Jicarilla traditional clays are much lower
in temperature, though, I believe.
A historical note - Picuris wasn't always a tiny pueblo.
It was once one of the largest, and played a pivotal role
in the Pueblo Revolt against the Spanish. As a result it
was nearly stomped out of existence in the subsequent
reprisals. This is one of the reasons (among several) that
this style of ware is less well-known than the work of other
pueblos.
vince pitelka on sun 15 oct 00
> traditionally thought of with Pueblo pottery. They used micaceous clay
> which turned black when fired so they didn't really need to use terra sig
to
> burnish the pots. Otherwise, I haven't found a lot of information. I am
> hoping for anyone who might have information on the Picuris Pueblos
pottery
> process or might know a source where I can find it.
Lori -
The best known Picuris Pueblo pots were made of micaceous clay, as you
state, but it did not turn black in the firing. It remained a beautiful
irridescent tan/gold color, with some flashes of black. There seems to be
some variation in technique. Some pieces were coated with micaceous slip,
while others were built from micaceous clay. Personally, I would prefer the
former, since the micaceous clay apparently tended to be less plastic. I do
not have recommendations for further sources, but you might want to contact
the University of New Mexico library and get their recommendations. UNM has
the best collections of these pots.
Good luck -
- Vince
Vince Pitelka
Home - vpitelka@dekalb.net
615/597-5376
Work - wpitelka@tntech.edu
615/597-6801 ext. 111, fax 615/597-6803
Appalachian Center for Crafts
Tennessee Technological University
1560 Craft Center Drive, Smithville TN 37166
http://www.craftcenter.tntech.edu/
Snail Scott on mon 16 oct 00
At 12:36 PM 10/16/00 -0600, you wrote:
>Snail,
>
>You mention adding flake mica to ware to simulate a micaceous body, and
>state "not powdered". I'm not sure what you mean by powdered--I mean, a
>flake can be pretty small and still be a flake, and you obviously don't want
>large flakes.
>
>The micaceous clay I've seen (from my back yard, primarily) appears to have
>powdered mica throughout. Our soil here glimmers with flakes and specks of
>mica. When the sun is on it in the morning, it's almost as magical as fresh
>snow in the moonlight.
>
>So how fine does it have to be to be powdered? 325 mesh? If it still
>glimmers, is it still a flake?
>
>Cindy Strnad
Cindy-
When I worked for a clay supplier, we had both powdered and
flake mica in stock. Powdered mica looks just like all the other
white powders we use - fairly fine, with no visible sparkle.
Some people use it to make clay bodies more resistant to thermal
shock without altering the appearance of the body. I figure
the distinction is one of final appearance...if it still
looks shiny in the clay, I wouldn't count it as powdered.
-Snail
Cindy Strnad on mon 16 oct 00
Snail,
You mention adding flake mica to ware to simulate a micaceous body, and
state "not powdered". I'm not sure what you mean by powdered--I mean, a
flake can be pretty small and still be a flake, and you obviously don't want
large flakes.
The micaceous clay I've seen (from my back yard, primarily) appears to have
powdered mica throughout. Our soil here glimmers with flakes and specks of
mica. When the sun is on it in the morning, it's almost as magical as fresh
snow in the moonlight.
So how fine does it have to be to be powdered? 325 mesh? If it still
glimmers, is it still a flake?
Cindy Strnad
Earthen Vessels Pottery
RR 1, Box 51
Custer, SD 57730
USA
earthenv@gwtc.net
http://www.earthenvesselssd.com
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