The Care and Cleaning of Native American Pottery
Recently, the elders of Acoma Pueblo were faced with
an unusual situation. A tourist was demanding a refund for a non-glazed
Acoma pot that she took
home and washed in the dishwasher. Needless to say the pot was ruined
and since she didn’t have a receipt for the shop she bought it at and didn’t
know the name of the potter she wasn’t able to recoup her losses from
the Pueblo or the pot merchant. Of course most of you pot collectors out
there are laughing at the thought of using a dishwasher to clean an Acoma
pot. But for those of you who have ever faced the problem of fixing a touchy
cleaning problem on an investment piece, it’s not totally a laughing
matter. This article will address most if not all of the situations you’ll
encounter, dishwasher damage excluded.
Where you display your pottery piece is a big factor
in keeping it in prime condition. Never set your pottery where other
objects are likely to cause
nicks or scratches on the surface. Also, don’t display your pot in
direct sunlight. Over time the sun bakes the clay making it friable not
to mention that it fades natural pigments and paints. These blemishes
all affect
the resale value of your pot.
Always wash your hands before handling the outside your pottery. Pottery
is very porous and will absorb the natural oils from your hands. Again, keep
this in mind when you choose where to display your pottery. I know of a person
who displayed her pottery collection above her kitchen cabinets. In less
than a year so much dust and dirt had stuck to the airborne cooking oils
that quite a number of her pots were badly affected. Keep your pottery away
from oil and grease. A light fingerprint on your pottery usually comes off
with the soft cloth and water method described below, but sometimes they
become a permanent blemish on the pot. An ounce of prevention is best, just
get into the habit of washing your hands before you handle your pottery or
learn to move the pot from the inside without touching the outer surface.
Pottery needs to be dusted frequently to avoid a
build up of airborne dust, debris and dirt. Grit caught between a dusting
cloth and the painted surface
will permanently damage your pot so avoid using a cloth or paper towel.
The best dusting technique is to use a feather duster or one of the
new Swifter-type
electrostatic dusters and lightly, I repeat, lightly but thoroughly run
the duster over the inside and outside of your pot. Corrugated and etched
pottery
should be brushed with a very soft natural bristle brush after you’ve
dusted the pot. A paintbrush designated only to be used on your pottery
works well. Even though the bristles are soft, you still need to be watchful
for
any sand or grit that could get caught in them and scratch the surface.
Sometimes accidents happen and you’ll get a drop of something on your
pot that dusting just won’t get rid of. Glazed finishes on pottery
are no problem since they can withstand a good hand washing submersed in
warm soapy water. However, most Native American pottery doesn’t have
a glazed finish and these need to avoid soap and being submersed in water
of any temperature. The best method is to dampen a soft cotton cloth and
very gently try to rub off the drop. If your water has a high mineral
content use filtered or bottled water. Remember that many of the pigments
are mineral
derived and water with a high mineral content may cause a discoloration
or leave behind a residue.
Most Native American pottery is fired after it’s painted so you shouldn’t
have any problem with this method. However, an artist may have touched up
a spot after firing and a rare potter or two don’t fire their pots
after painting them, in which case rubbing a damp cloth on the surface
will actually remove pigments. To be on the safe side, always test a small
inconspicuous
place on your pot before cleaning with this method. Stone polished pottery,
such as those from Santa Clara responds well to this method of cleaning
as long as the water is clear, the surface is pre-dusted and the cloth
is clear
of any debris. You should always be extra careful when using the cloth
and water method with any porous surfaced pottery.
If you keep your pottery dusted regularly there shouldn’t
be a build up of dirt on the surface even after several decades. If
you keep it out
of direct sun and display it in a safe location, the surface will gradually
take on the rich patina of old pottery without the blemishes that devalue
old pots. And by all means, remember that dishwashers are for dishes and
not collectible pottery.
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