Ceramics Class

Fruitport High School Instructor: Mrs. Jacobson

History of Coil Pots

One very popular

ceramic form known

as Coil Pottery has
its roots from the
Greeks several
millennia ago.

History of Coil Pots

The coil method in Grecian

art came sometime after

the pottery wheel method
began around 2500 BC.
After initial construction,
these early Greek coiled
pots were often placed on
a wheel, turned and
trimmed giving them a
smoothed finish

History of Coil Pots

Due to the quantity of

Ancient Greek pottery that

has remained intact over
time, archeologists have been
able to better understand and
piece together ancient Greek
society.
This is because paintings and
other documentation have
not preserved as well as
pottery

History of Coil Pots

Nearly 2000 years ago, agriculture

began in North America. This new

method of food production allowed
the previously nomadic Indians to
settle down in one area.

History of Coil Pots

Early Pueblo Indian life

had begun to focus on

agriculture although
people still hunted and
gathered wild foods.
This is when coil
pottery first appeared
in the Southwest
United States.

History of Coil Pots

Various functional pottery forms

began to take shape to assist with

storing grains and liquids, and
preserving seeds for the next
planting.

History of Coil Pots

Initially, handmade vessels

were for functional

purposes, with little
consideration for artistry.
Most of the very early
vessels were undecorated,
leaving only the texture of
the coils and pinches, or
indentations from pointed
sticks. Symmetry was not
much of a concern

History of Coil Pots

Art was simply a part

of everyday life, not

something to be
separated from it, or
to be hung in special
buildings. Goods
were decorated to
enhance their
aesthetic qualities
and/or their spiritual
power.

History of Coil Pots

In the world of Native

American art today, there

are four extremely wellknown traditions: the
wood-carving traditions of
the Northwest Coast tribes,
Navajo blankets, Tohono
Oodham baskets, and
Pueblo pottery. Of these,
Pueblo pottery is probably
the best known.

History of Coil Pots

For many centuries, Pueblo

people have made and used

a wide variety of pottery
containers, including bowls,
jars, cups, ladles, and
canteens. Pueblo potters
also produced figurines,
effigy vessels to be used for
religious purposes, pipes,
and prayer meal bowls. The
pottery was, and still is,
often highly decorated and
was traditionally traded
throughout the region.

History of Coil Pots

Maria MartinezSan Ildefonso Pueblo, was

aNative Americanartist who created

internationally known Pottery. Martinez and her
husbandJulian examined traditional Pueblo pottery
styles and techniques to create pieces which
reflect the Pueblo peoples legacy of fine artwork
and crafts.

History of Coil Pots

Maria Martinez is

known for her nowfamousblack-onblackpottery.

2 different ways to
make coils

How to Build a Coil

Project
All clay must be scored,
slipped and blended and
smoothed.

Use the rib to smooth out

the walls

Smoothed out coils create a

beautfiul pot

You dont have to smooth out the

coils

Some coil pottery has the coil

design showing- this is called
exposed coil method.

Exposed coil projects have

interesting patterns

Coils can intertwine or even

make teardrops

Fragile piece, but coils can

create a design

You can even braid and

weaving clay coils

Flatten some coils and smooth

out others

Smoothed out coils and then

visual coils