Native American Navajo Etched pottery pieces are classic examples of indigenous artwork from the southwest. These pieces are beautiful, but you might wonder how they are created and what the symbols mean that are etched so beautifully into these pieces.
These pieces are created by the basic shape of the pot being poured into a mold. When the clay dries enough it is removed from the mold and allowed to finish air drying. The artist then paints the pot with bands of color. When the paint dries the artist uses a sharp instrument and slices through the paint layer and into the pot. The finished piece is then fired to create the hard ceramic piece.
The etchings (sgraffitto) carved into the Navajo ceramic pottery represent everything from mountains, planets, animals, prayer feathers and ceremonial altars to even our path in life. Each of these symbols is etched by the potter in a very specific traditional way.
These beautiful Native American Navajo Etched pieces are a timeless creation and because they are “ceramic” or “slip-poured,” the potter does not have to spend the time and the labor to create the vessel. The artist can spend all of his or her time on the artistry etched into the pots. These ceramic pieces are much more affordable than the handbuilt pottery pieces of the Native American people.
