Adobe Gallery Blog
Prehistoric New Mexico Kotyiti Glaze on Yellow Bowl - 25939
The Galisteo Basin was once home to the Tano Pueblo Indians who were the Southern Tewa. Originally, the Tano lived in the area around Santa Fe. Around 1250 to 1325, they moved further away to the area of the Galisteo Basin, settling in the region at the base of La Bajada, the long descent just south of Santa Fe on Interstate 25. Their new homeland was near Kewa and Cochiti Pueblos.
The Tano were producing the regular vegetal paint tradition until they switched to the glaze-paint tradition and it, then, became the design of choice. The essential ingredient in glaze paint is lead and the Tano found a ready source of lead near Cerrillos, a short distance from Santa Fe.
The Tano glaze-paint was generally painted on a creamy yellow slip. The glaze paint was not stable and often ran when applied to the surface. It did produce a beautiful shiny black finish which was probably its admirable trait.