ACOMA / LAGUNA
Made of a white clay that is gathered from places known only to the potters, Acoma ware is the thinnest of all Southwestern pottery, yet quite hard and durable. Acoma is best known for white-slipped ware, which is decorated with black or black and orange designs. Some potters use slips other than white. Laguna pottery is generally polychrome (black, brown, red, and yellow) on white-slipped white ware. Geometric, crosshatching, solid designs and life forms are most often used as decorations.

COCHITI
Historically, Cochiti is well known for black on cream vessels, with red occasionally added to the design. A red slip is used on the base and interior of some vessels. Traditional pots always feature a line-break in an encircling line. In the 1960s Helen Cordero began making storyteller figures which remain popular today. Animals, birds and human figures also are used.

HOPI
Much of the Hopi pottery can be traced back to the turn-of-the-century potter Nampeyo. Hopi pottery is distinguished by its warm yellow-orange slip and polychrome designs. Traditional outdoor firing, as well as the iron content of the clay, produces variations in the yellowish surface color.

ISLETA
Isleta pottery is characterized by use of a white slip on reddish-buff ware and Acoma style designs painted in brown and orange or pastels.

JEMEZ
Jemez pottery has enjoyed a recent and very vigorous revival. Most pottery is buff or red slipped ware with red, buff, or white, and black designs. Geometric and symbols of clouds and feathers are often used. Figures include storytellers, clowns, and animals.

NAVAJO
The pinon pine pitch coating on Navajo pottery makes it distinct from other native Southwestern pottery. Traditional shapes, pots with handles, and a necklace applique on the rim are some design elements used. Designs may be appliqued, incised, painted or applied.

SAN ILDEFONSO / SANTA CLARA
The best known of all Pueblo potters, Maria Martinez, along with her husband, Julian developed the black on black style of pottery at San Ildefonso around 1919. The carved blackware technique began around 1930. Other styles include black and white on red; two tone (black and sienna) ware; and sgraffito designs, where the surface of the pot is carved after firing exposing the clay beneath it.

SAN JUAN / TESUQUE / NAMBE / POJOAQUE
San Juan is known for its polished redware with incised geometric designs. Tesuque - A few potters make tan micaceous ware and polished blackware. Nambe - Polychromes featuring either a textured matte surface or a polished background; polished blackware and redware; micaceous ware; and figurines. Pojoaque - Only a few active potters remain who produce polished redware and blackware, as well as pale-hued polychrome designs on off-white, tan or polished red vessels.

SANTO DOMINGO
Traditional Santo Domingo vessels feature a cream slip on the body and a red slip on the base. Large, gracefully balanced geometrics charaterized by bold, simple lines are executed in vegetal paint, which turns black during firing. Red is often used to paint designs.

TAOS / PICURIS
Handcrafted from a distinctive tan or golden-colored clay. The glittering surface is due to flecks of mica that naturally occur in the clay. Design is simple, no slip is used and decoration is minimal. Picuris micaceous ware tends to be thin-walled.

ZIA / SANTA ANA
Zia pottery is generally medium-walled polychrome made of reddish clay tempered with ground black basalt. Designs are painted in black and red on white or buff slip. Designs are bold and often incorporate the distinctive Zia bird. Flower motifs are popular as are "rainbow bands" which run from the rim to down low on the body of the pot. Santa Ana red clay vessels are slipped with white or buff. Sometimes the lower part is left unslipped so that the red shows. Designs include scallops and triangles.

ZUNI
Pottery making at Zuni has enjoyed a resurgence since the early 1980s. Styles include red and brownish-black designs on white or buff slip, as well as black-on-red vessels. Distinctive Zuni designs include the deer with red heart-line, rain bird, plant and animal forms and geometric designs. Animal effigy pots such as owls and ducks are being made.

Basic Styles and Shapes of Prehistoric, Historic, and Modern Indian Pottery: