Adobe Gallery Blog

Before the mid-1700s, potters at many New Mexico pueblos painted the rims of jars with a red slip, but then changed to black after that period.  The reason for this change is not clear as there was still ample red clay used on the interior of the rim as well as in the design of jars.  This jar appears to have had a red rim that overflowed from the interior neck but then was over-painted with black.

Potters at Zia Pueblo used, and still do, a cream-colored slip on the surface of the jar down to just a few inches from the bottom.  This slip is then stone polished to a smooth finish in preparation for applying the chosen design.  At the base of the cream slip, a red band is wiped on as a means of forming a clean line between the cream slip and the un-slipped lower body of the jar.

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