Acoma Pottery

The people of the Acoma Pueblo are possibly the oldest continuously inhabited village in the United States. They have a tradition of producing high-quality pottery.

The creation of traditional (coiled pottery as opposed to greenware or cast) requires a high degree of technical expertise. The pottery is thin-walled - but strong.

Prior to firing and decorating Acoma pottery is painted with a kaolin clay slip. Acoma pottery can be plain with a smooth white slip, white with indentations (thumbnailing), white on black, or black on white. One of the most common forms the pottery takes is polychromes of black, orange, and brown on white. Designs may extend from deer, flowers, and birds to fine-lined geometric patterns. The Mimbres and Hohokam styles have also been incorporated into Acoma pottery at times. The Acoma potters also incorporate figurative pottery such as owls, turtles, etc., as part of their artistic repertoire.