| Native American pottery is fun to collect. There are | | | | You can also purchase pueblo pottery online. You can |
| so many different pueblos, and each one has its own | | | | often get some good discounts at online sites. Of |
| style of pottery. While collecting the pottery, you are | | | | course, you can't handle the pottery then, so be sure |
| also learning a lot about Native American art and | | | | that they have good photos of the pottery at the |
| culture. | | | | website. |
| This form of art has been practiced for thousands of | | | | Try to get the largest examples of pottery you can |
| years. Yet it is constantly improving as modern artists | | | | afford. It should not have any chips or cracks, as |
| are experimenting with new techniques and designs. | | | | that will reduce the value. Also, some pottery is |
| You can purchase antique pottery or modern | | | | made from molds, which is ok, but the hand made |
| versions, and each has its pros and cons. Of course, | | | | pottery is more valuable. In any case, even the |
| the older pottery is much more expensive, if it is in | | | | pottery made from a mold should be hand painted |
| good condition, because of the value as an antique. | | | | beautifully by the potter. |
| But the newer pottery can be just as beautiful or | | | | It is fun to collect pottery from the different pueblos. |
| even more so. It is important to collect what you like | | | | It is amazing how different they can be. The |
| and can afford. | | | | differences could be in the color of clay used, the |
| The first thing you should do is visit some websites | | | | shapes of the pottery, the subject matter of |
| and look at photos of Native American pottery. | | | | sculptures, the amount of carving on the piece, the |
| WHen you see enough good quality pottery, you will | | | | style of painting, and so on. Get a good book |
| train your eye to recognize what is good. Be sure to | | | | showing the various styles. It wll help you a lot. |
| read some books on the subject as well. | | | | There are many different types of pottery too. |
| If you can visit New Mexico or Arizona, be sure to | | | | Some are ollas, bowls, seed pots, traditional wedding |
| visit some of the pueblos where the pottery is made. | | | | vases, story teller figurines, figures of animals, and |
| Often the pueblo will have a cultural center where | | | | many others. |
| they display works of the local artists, along with a | | | | Some of the Native American potters have become |
| lot of information about their history and crafts. This | | | | quite famous, and their work can be very expensive, |
| will help you get a feel for the pottery as well. | | | | but it is also extremely beautiful. But the work of |
| You can purchase pottery at these cultural centers, | | | | lesser known potters can be lovely as well, and is |
| but you might be better off buying the pottery | | | | much more affordable. You can always start out |
| directly from the artist. For sure, you should not buy | | | | simply and purchase more expensive pottery as you |
| the pottery at the expensive shops in the tourist | | | | get more familiar with it. |
| areas of Santa Fe or Albuquerque. It will be marked | | | | Enjoy your new hobby of collecting Native American |
| up a great deal there. | | | | pottery! |