How Catawba Indian Pottery is made

All Catawba pottery is made in the traditional method used by their ancestors for centuries. The Catawba Tribe is the only Indian Tribe east of the Mississippi that still makes pottery in the old handcrafted techniques of their ancestors.

Step 1: Getting the clay

The clay is dug from two different secret locations. The Catawba Indians will not disclose the locations and very few white men have seen them. Catawba pottery requires the mixing of the 2 clays to get the correct texture and stability for making large pieces. These are called pan clay and pipe clay. Some smaller pieces can be made from just pipe clay thus the name pipe clay. To dig clay it is normally an all day affair. One location requires that the potter dig a eight foot deep hole big enough to get into and get the clay. The clay vein is about 8 feet below the surface. The clay is wet and very heavy. A 5 gallon bucket is about all a strong man can carry. This bucket has to be carried some distance because of the remote location. Once the potter has the clay he needs he covers that 8 foot hole back up to help protect the location. So as you can see by the time the potter has done this in 2 different locations he has spent a whole day just getting the clay. Most of the younger potters share their clay with their elders or dig clay for family elders.

These Catawba Indians are digging pan clay. Note the hole behind them, that's the cave they crawl into in order to get the clay.

Step 2: Preparing the clay

The raw clay is then strained through window wire to remove impurities such as small stones and sticks. Once both types of clay have been strained then they are mixed to the texture and strength desired by the individual potter.

This Catawba potter is straining the clay through a piece of window wire (screen wire).

Step 3: Building the piece

The potters use a lap board to build on. This lap board can be any shape or material. Normally it is a square piece of wood. The potter molds whatever piece comes to his mind and shapes it by hand. The piece sits on the lap board until it is dry, he can then remove it and use the lap board for another piece. Each potter has his own idea of what a good lap board is. The tools used to model the piece vary greatly. Each potter has his favorite tools. They can be as primitive as sea shells or as modern as contemporary kitchen tools. The piece at this point is very rough and is left to dry somewhat till it's at the stage of hardness that it can safely be handled.

Here is Nola Campbell giving one of her classic demonstrations of making pottery. Note the lap board it is sitting on.

Step 4: Scraping the pottery

Scraping is the same as carving. It is at this stage that the piece is really formed. All uneven places are repaired and the walls are scraped down to make them thinner. This is the step where the potter pays close attention to detail. While the potter is scraping large pieces of clay are removed. The potter saves these scrapings as the clay is a valuable commodity and not a scrap is wasted. Some potters scrape their pieces when wet while others prefer theirs to be dry.

Here is Cheryl "Morning Star" Sanders scraping one of her pieces. If you look real close you can see small pieces between her hands. Those pieces will be saved and reused later.

Step 5: Rubbing the pottery

Next would be the rubbing of the pottery. Potters spend hours rubbing their pieces so the rubbing rocks are their most cherished tools. The more a piece is rubbed the smoother the finish. Marcus Sanders rubs his pottery until it is smooth as a marble this requires many hours of rubbing. Each potter has his own way of rubbing. Some only rub a piece once but make sure it is rubbed correctly spending hours just on one rub. On lesser pieces called "trade ware" the rub marks can easily be seen. On quality pieces it is very hard to see the marks of the rubbing stone.

Warren Brian Sanders rubbing some of his pieces. Note the stones and tools on the table.

Step 6: Burning the pottery

This would be my least favorite step. I will explain later. The finished pottery is burned in a open pit out in the yard. Every potter has a different method of burning. Some use hardwoods, some use softwood and a few just use what is picked up off the forest floor. The fire pits are all different also. Some use wind shields such as cinder blocks or pieces of tin. These are handy to have around is a rain shower should pop up. I was told that the pieces that turn out black were in the bottom and were deprived of oxygen thus causing the black color. Different clays, wood and burning time produce the different colors.

Now the bad part. You spend all those hours digging, molding, scraping and rubbing then when start the burn suddenly you hear a "crack" like a dead limb breaking and you realize all your hours of work has just broken into pieces. You see a tiny air bubble in the clay will cause it to explode. I talked to one potter who has lost as many as 15 pieces in one burn. I'm hoping at this point you can realize the amount of time and most of all the love each potter puts into each piece.

Above is the famous potter Arzada Sanders making her burn. How much would you give for one of those pieces in the fire?

Step 6: Finished

I would like to close in saying the Catawba Indian potters don't do this for any other reason than the love of making pottery. All of the potters I have met have pieces all over their homes that they made or was given to them by friends and family. They also have collections of their own pottery which they would not sell for any price. So if you are lucky enough to own or buy a piece you should cherish it forever.

If you have any questions or special requests you can Email us by clicking here Catawba Indian Pottery.com

This site is owned by Master Potter Marcus Sanders.