56 ABORIGINAL POTTERY OF EASTERN UNITED STATES [f.th.ann.20 



MANUFACTURE BY CHEKOKKE WdllEN 



Mr Mc)()ii(>y found that although the making of pottery had fallen 

 into disu.se among the Cherokees, three women were still skilled in 

 the ai't. The names of these potters are Uhyunli, then 75 years of 

 age. Katalsta, about 85 years of age. and Ewi Katalsta. daughter of 

 the last named and about 50 years old. 



Cherokee^ ])rocesses differ from the C'atawl)a, or more properly, per- 

 haps, did differ, in two principal points, namely, <(, the application of 

 a ])lack glossy color by smother-tiring, and. />, the application of orna- 

 mental designs to the exterior of the ve.s.sel b\' means of figured paddles 

 or stamps. The employment of incised decorations was more common 

 among the Cherokees than among the Catawbas. 



Katalsta used clay of the fine dark variety obtained near Macedonia 

 Church. She prepared it as did th(> Catawba women, but in building- 

 she sometimes u.sed one long coil which was carried spirally from the 

 bottom to the rim after the manner of the ancient Pueblos and -the 

 potters of Louisiana. The inside of the vessel was shaped with a 

 spoon and polished with a stone, the latter having lieen in use in the 

 potter's family, near Bryson City, North Carolina, for three genera- 

 tions. The outside was stamped all o\er with a paddle, the body of 

 which was covered with a checker pattern of engraved lines, giving a 

 somewhat ornamental effect. The rim was lined vertically by incising 

 with a pointed tool. At this stage of the process the vessel was lifted 

 hy means of a bit of cloth which prevented obliteration of the orna- 

 ments. When the ve.ssel was finished and dried in the sun it was 

 heated by the fire for three hours, and then put on the fire and covered 

 with bark and bvirned for about three-quarters of an hour. When 

 this step of the process was completed the vessel was taken outside the 

 house and inverted over a small hole in the ground, which was filled 

 with burning corn cobs. This fuel was renewed a number of times, 

 and at the end of half an hour the interior of the vessel had acquired 

 a black and glistening surface. Sometimes the same result is obtained 

 T)y burning small quantities of wheat or cob bran in the ves.sel, which 

 is co\ered over during the burning to prevent the escape of the smoke. 



The implements used by the potters of this reservation are the tool for 

 pounding the clay; the bits of gourd or shell, or other convex-surfaced 

 devices for shaping and polishing; the knife for trinmiing edges; smooth 

 pebbles for final polishing: pointed tools of wood, metal, etc., for 

 incising patterns; and paddle stamps for imparting a rude diapered 

 effect to the exterior surface of the vessel. The stamp patterns are 

 usually small diamonds or squares, formed by (-utting crossed grooves 

 on the face of a small paddle of poj)lar or linn wood. 



Plain pipes of rather rude fifiish are made by the Cherokees after 

 their ordinary manner of earthenware manufacture. 



