The Care and Cleaning of Native American Pottery

by Dr Katherine Aaron

Recently, the elders of Acoma Pueblo were faced with an unusual situation. A tourist was angrily demanding a refund for a non-glazed greenware 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 potter, the Pueblo or the pot merchant. Of course most of you 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 value and beauty 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 a collector who displayed some of her 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 sources of 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. Practice this on your less valuable pieces that are light and only if you feel confident, move onto to your larger and more valuable pieces. Standing over your pot, place one hand inside with your palm flat and facing up against the inside wall. Gently and slowly, tip it onto the edge of the base while supporting it around the opening with the wrist or arm and the palm of your hand. Then slip your other hand underneath to secure the bottom, trying not to touch the center where most potter's signatures are found. The pot is supported with both hands but the weight is primarily supported by the hand on the bottom. Your arm or wrist on the opening, the palm on the inside wall and the other hand supports the pot.

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 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 of electrostatic dusters and lightly, I repeat, lightly but thoroughly run the duster over the outside and then the inside of your pot. Corrugated and etched pottery should be brushed with a very soft natural brush. A paintbrush designated only to be used on your pottery works well. Even though the bristles are flexible and 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. Most collectors consider these to be part of the natural aging of the pot. The newer glazed finishes on pottery are no problem to keep clean since they can withstand submersion in warm and even soapy water. However, most Native American pottery doesn’t have a glazed finish and these need to avoid soap or submersion in water of any temperature. The best method is to dampen a soft cotton cloth and very gently dab off the soiled spot after you've dusted the pot. If your tap water has a high mineral content use filtered or bottled water. 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 and Santo Domingo responds well to this method of cleaning as long as the water is filtered, the surface is pre-dusted and the cloth is soft and clean. 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 only for dishes.