Mohave Pottery

Chapter 5

respectively; but the two cla.s.ses do overlap in size. (Pls. 3,_e_-_f_, _h_-_j_, 6,_d_-_e_.)

_Spoon_, _ladle_, _dipper_, _scoop_: kam"ota. These are oval trays brought at one end to (A) a point or rude quail"s head, or (B) to a sharp rounding or blunt point. The second type is obviously related in form to the oval platters; though most spoons are longer than most platters. Their range is from 113 to 226 mm. Painted design on the inner side varied; on the back it is usually simpler, but also varied. A few spoons are built up at the "handle" into a hollow box that rattles.

_Parcher_: katela. As the spoons can be construed as oval platters pointed at one end, the parchers--used to shake live coals with grain or seeds--are two-ended, with well-raised points. They are about twice as long as spoons, and longer than any known platters or bowls: 340-385 mm., with a width about seven-tenths that. They are wholly unpainted.

(Pl. 6,_f_, _g_.)

The five foregoing shapes are all "open" and relatively flat. There are about the same number of "tall" shapes--pots, jars, jugs, etc. But these are represented by notably fewer specimens. Whether this disproportion existed in precontact times, I do not know. It is possible that cooking vessels and containers of American make had begun to crowd out native forms by 1902-1908 faster than bowls, platters, and spoons were being displaced.

_Cook pot_: taskyena. The single specimen available, 5,_c_, is about the size of a bowl but higher (77 per cent as against 68 per cent maximum); mouth and body diameter the same, neck constricted 9 to 10 per cent. No handles, paint, or decoration.

_Large cook pot_: tuvava. Set on three rests. It may have been proportionally higher than the taskyena, but my recollection is fifty years old.

_Water jar_: hapurui. Unhandled, painted. The largest dimension is the body diameter, usually below the middle. Next largest dimension is the height, though in one case this is about equaled by the mouth diameter.

The neck has from 80 to 87 per cent the diameter of the mouth.

One specimen (5,_a_) differs from the two others in showing considerably more taper from body to neck and mouth and in having an annular base.

The contained volume would be around a gallon or up. (Pls. 5,_a_, _b_, 8,_a_.)

_Oval seed-storage jar (or canteen) with short side spout_: hapurui hanemo, "duck jar" from its shape. The single specimen is unpainted.

(Pl. 6,_i_.)

_Seed jar with small flaring mouth._ See Appendix I.

_Canteen for carrying_ in sling or net. Short spout on top, as in a basket or gourd. One specimen, painted. (Pl. 6,_h_.)

_Handled jug_: no native name obtained, except hapurui, jar, or kwa?ki, bowl. May be a postcontact form. Higher than wide; no spout. Painted outside. (Pl. 5,_d_-_g_.)

_Handled cup_: also unnamed, except perhaps kwa?ki, and perhaps postcontact. Wider than high. Painted design mainly inside. (Pls.

5,_h_-_i_, 8,_b_.)

TRANSITIONAL AND EXCEPTIONAL PIECES

Bowls with princ.i.p.al painting outside: 8,_f_, _g_.

Bowls of height more than two-thirds diameter: 2,_g_, base somewhat conical; 8,_h_, fire blackened.

Bowl with cylindrical projections to prevent slip of neck binding: 8,_e_.

Transition bowl-platter with 11 f.l.a.n.g.es to hold binding; no neck or recurved rim; H/D ratio 38 per cent on border between bowl and round platter cla.s.ses. The diameter is greater than that of any other bowl or platter in the collection (8,_e_ is next), and the weight is second heaviest (8,_f_ being first): 6,_c_. Called suyire.

Spoon with ribbon handle curled back (only "handled" spoon): 8,_k_.

Water jar with annular base (found otherwise only on handled jugs), and considerably reduced neck and mouth: 5,_a_.

SUMMARY OF PAINTED DESIGNS AND ELEMENTS

_"Angled-and-forked" continuous pattern_: usually of triple lines; background stippled or empty. Bowls 1,_a_-_h_, 2,_e_, 8,_d_; platters 3,_a_-_b_, 3,_g_ (called "fish bones"); spoon 4,_b_; jar 5,_a_, jug 5,_g_; cup 5,_i_. I did not obtain a name for this design as an overall pattern. Some element in it, perhaps the filled-in angle, was twice denominated t.i.t?ok face paint.

_"Hourgla.s.s" figures_: (1) as princ.i.p.al design, bowl 2,_f_; platter 3,_d_; spoons 4,_a_, 4,_d_ (in rows), 4,_q_; jar 8,_a_; jug 5,_e_. (2) as secondary design element with rhomboids, bowls 2,_a_, _b_; spoons 4,_g_, _h_, _i_, _j_, _m_ with diamonds in column. The hourgla.s.s figure can of course be construed as the "filled-in angle" enlarged.

_Quadrilaterals-hexagons_, shifting from one to the other according to exigencies of the field. The mark + designates painted figures, that are dark; others are open, left as part of the lighter background, or stippled.

A. Four central polygons: bowls +2,_a_, +6,_c_ (in this, rounded into ovals).

B. More than four: bowls +2,_b_, 2,_f_; platter 3,_d_; jug 5,_e_; cup 8,_b_.

C. In rows: spoons 4,_a_, _d_; jar 8,_a_.

D. In columns: spoons 4,_g_, _h_, _i_, _j_, +_m_.

_Rows of dark and light triangles_: bowls 2,_a_, _b_; spoons 4,_l_, _q_ (these s.p.a.ced and "geared"); 2,_b_, 4,_l_, _q_ named coyote teeth; jug 5,_d_, named tattoo points.

_Fishbone (fish backbone) pattern_: of parallel angled lines, from one to four chevrons in each line. Usually about half the angles are filled in; this is indicated by the asterisk *.

A. With vertebral column shown by central line: platter *3,_g_ (transitional to angled-and-forked pattern); spoons 4,_e_ (with stippling), *4,_o_, 7,_h_ outside, 8,_j_; jug *5,_g_.

B. Without vertebral column, zigzag parallels only: Bowl *2,_g_; platters *3,_c_, *3,_e_; spoons *4,_f_, *4,_k_, *4,_s_, 7,_c_ outside, 8,_k_ (direction of angles unusual).

C. (Named fishbone or fishtail, but design of straight stripes only: bowl 2,_h_ outside; spoon 7,_e_ outside.)

_Circular center of design_: bowl 2,_f_; oval platter 6,_d_; cup 8,_b_.

_Fishnetlike design_, crossing lines, square or diagonal. Asterisk *

denotes filled-in angles.

A. On inside of vessel: bowls *8,_e_, perhaps 2,_g_; spoons *4,_n_, 8,_i_ (really rows of polygons, stippled).

B. On outside of vessel: bowls 8,_c_ (bold checker), 8,_f_, 8,_g_; spoons 7,_a_ (with blobs in centers), 7,_d_.

_Large polka dots_ as design: platters 3,_f_ outside, 3,_h_, 3,_j_ (combined with tortoises); spoons 4,_c_, 7,_a_ (central blobs in polygon), 7,_f_ (with stripes).

_Stippling_: more or less as shading or value effect or border.

A. Of areas: bowls 1,_a_, _b_, _c_, _d_, _e_, _g_, _h_, 2,_e_, _h_, 8,_d_; platters, 3,_d_, (3,_j_); spoons 4,_b_, _e_, _g_, _i_, _j_, _q_, _r_, 8,_i_; jars 5,_b_, 8,_a_; jug 5,_f_; cups 5,_i_, 8,_b_.

B. Row of spots as outer or inner border: bowl 6,_a_; platter 3,_g_; spoons 4,_h_, _p_, _q_; canteen 6,_h_.

_Solid angles, corners filled in_: (see * under fishbone and fishnet patterns; and regular in "angled-and-forked.") Total occurrence is in more than thirty vessels. Bowls 1,_a_-_h_, 2,_a_, _b_, (_c_), _f_, _g_ outside, 6,_c_, 8,_d_, _e_; platters 3,_a_, _b_, _c_, _d_, _e_, _g_; spoons 4,_b_, _f_, _g_, _h_, _i_, _k_, _m_, _n_, _r_, _s_; jar 5,_a_; jugs 5,_e_, _f_, _f_; cups 5(_h_), _i_, 8,_b_.

_Negative (dark) effect_:

A. Dark background, pattern light: bowl 8,_f_ outside; platters 3,_a_, _b_; spoon 4,_m_.

B. Dark and light areas alternating evenly: bowls 2,_c_, _d_; platter 8,_c_ outside.

C. Seeming negative, owing to ma.s.ses of dark polygons: bowls 2,_a_, (_b_).

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