Ute Tribe

Pottery

Ute Mountain Indian Pottery

     The Pottery Factory lies in the valley formed by the Sleeping Ute Mountain on the west and the cliffs of Mesa Verde National Park to the east. These lands were once home to the ancient Anasazi people who mysteriously vanished several centuries ago. The ruins of the cliff dwellings and villages of the Anasazi have yielded many examples of roughened earthenware and finely decorated pottery.
     The Utes, a nomadic tribe until the 1800's, now inhabit this beautiful and geographically diverse land. Their unique paintings contain elements of the geometric designs of the Anasazi. However, Ute artists have, over many years, adapted these designs and included their own representations of their land.
     To encourage the talents of tribal artists, the tribe formed the pottery enterprise in 1973. Ute Mountain  Indian Pottery employs about 30 tribal members in all phases of production and management. The pieces of pottery are not only durable for everyday use, but are of museum quality for your collection.

 Pottery is poured by hand into ceramic molds, then turned and cleaned. Artists create their own original designs and sign each piece. The pottery is glazed by hand and fired in modern kilns. The result is a line of high-quality pottery that is one of the few truly Native American products available.

Vincent Laner puts the finishing touches on a beautiful platter in the photo on the left. Beverly House, center, is signing her name on a bowl before glazing. Louise Begay glazes a vase before the final stage of firing in the kiln.

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Click on the small images to see some fine examples
of Ute Mountain Indian Pottery.
 
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Pottery Factory Web Site

     One of the goals for this Tribal enterprise is to develop its own independent web site in the near future. The site will feature a catalog of the various lines and pieces of pottery and an online ordering system. A link to that site will be created on this page when the site is ready, so check back here for updates.
     Until the site is online, call, e-mail, or write for our wholesale catalog and price list.  Better still, come visit us at the Ute Mountain Ute Reservation.

Ute Mountain Indian Pottery
8 miles south of Cortez
Highway 160/666
Towaoc, Colorado 81334
1-800-896-8548
E-mail

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