native pottery

[iowabow]

I am starting an experiment with clay from the bottom of flint creek here in Burlington Ia. I am tempering the clay with clam shells from the creek. I plan on pit firing the work. I separated the small rocks by liquefying the clay and pouring off the top leaving the stone and large sand particles. I am crushing the shell to a powder and adding it to the mix. If any of you habe done this i would like you input about your results.

[Eric Krewson]

I have done a lot of pot hunting in years past.

Here is a shell tempered Mississippian era ladle to give you an idea of how much crushed shell to put in your clay. Not the clearest picture but you can see the shell.

[iowabow]

Can you post more pic of stuff you found. I am not sure what form i am going to make. Do you  have a site you like to look at on the web.

[Parnell]

Good thread!  I've been finding a lot of clay beds in the inter-coastal waterway, lately.  Probably decayed mangroves areas that come and go in the passes.  What would be a good plan for trying to make a pit-fired pot out of mangrove clay?  Do I smash shells and add it to it?  I'd be interested in trying my hand at it...

[iowabow]

Hey i cant tell the scale of the particles without a ruler. Couple of pictures.

[Eric Krewson]

The shell particles are small, 1/16th" a smaller, the shell is Tennessee River mussel shell. The ladle was washed out of the banks of the Tennessee River between Stevenson and Bridgeport Al. I found it in the seventies before picking up such stuff was illegal. As you can see, it was made in the form of a breast which I found a bit unusual.

[iowabow]

The clay was perfect today. So made a simple pot. Later this week I am going to fire this in a pit.

[sadiejane]

that pot looks great. really looking forward to the after firing pic too!

[iowabow]

I have read a lot about different  firing but would really like to hear about how others have fired their work.

[iowabow]

that pot looks great. really looking forward to the after firing pic too!

Thanks the marks on the pot have meanings . There are 12 full moons above fields of grass and a creek that runs below. I kept it simple for the first try.

[JW_Halverson]

That's wonderful stuff, John, I love it. 

How about a simple primer on pit firing for those of us thinking of making the jump?

[iowabow]

Sure jw, I will do a play by play.

[iowabow]

I put two shell halves or 1 medium clam/mussle in to the clay of the pot seen above. I  plan to let the pot dry real good before putting it to the fire. Also I plan to heat treat flint below the pot so that two  processes can be preformed at one time.

[Pappy]

That is sweet John,very nice work,you are sure staying busy while you are off.
   Pappy

[MWirwicki]

John, that is really some cool stuff.  Can't wait to see your results.