hohokamsaltred

TYPE: Salt Red

DATE: A.D. 1300-1450 (Wallace 2003;22)

COMMON COLORS: Red often with "fire clouds".

TREATMENT: Exteriors (and interiors of bowls) are usually highly polished.

COMMENTS: Salt Red is a late Classic Period Redware (dating only to the Tucson and Civano Phases) that is considered by many to be the most highly polished and lustrous of all Hohokam ceramics. It is believed to have been produced along the Salt River.

KEY DIFFERENCES: Salt Red usually doesn't have near the amount of mica in the temper compared to most Gila Red vessels and is noticeably more well polished also. The polishing or burnishing is often so well done, it is often difficult to see polishing striations. Many Gila Red vessels will have obvious polishing striations showing. Salt Red vessels are often thicker than Gila Red vessels.

COMMENTS: Personally, this author feels that the four types: Salt Red, Salt Red Smudged, Gila Red and Gila Red Smudged, should only be two types: Salt Red and Gila Red. Salt and Gila Reds (that are not smudged from the Salt and Gila River areas) may be rare in the Classic Period. When talking about Salt Red and Gila Red in the Classic Period, Haury stated: "Smudged vessels outnumber the unsmudged by a large ratio at all times". (Haury, 1945;81). One must also consider the possibility that a number of smudged vessels went thru an intentional or accidental secondary firing and became unsmudged. Truly intentional unsmudged Gila Red and Salt Red in the Classic Period from the Salt and Gila River areas may be rare indeed. Personally, this author feels that smudged and unsmudged Gila and Salt Reds should simply be varieties of the two types. It should be noted that Salt Red Perry Mesa Variety and Verde Variety are commonly not smudged (Wood, 1987;32).

1Y Hohokam Salt Red Large Bowl.

You can see the anvil marks on the interior of this bowl.

Approximate Dimensions: 14" by 7 1/8"

2Y Hohokam Salt Red Effigy Vessel

Approximate Dimensions: 4 3/4" by 4 1/2"

3Y Hohokam Salt Red Vase

Approximate Dimensions: 3 3/4" by 3 1/2"

4N Hohokam Salt Red (Perry Mesa Variety)

5N Hohokam Salt Red Pitcher

6N Hohokam Salt Red Olla

7Y Hohokam Salt Red Bowl (Classic Shoulder)

Approximate Dimensions: 6 1/2" by 3 1/2"

8Y Hohokam Salt Red Flat Bottom Bowl

Approximate Dimensions: 7 1/2" by 3 1/2"

9Y Hohokam Salt Red Perry Mesa Variety

Approximate Dimensions: 6 1/8" by 4 7/8"

10Y Hohokam Salt Red Perry Mesa Variety

Approximate Dimensions: 6 3/8" by 4 3/4"

11Y Hohokam Salt Red Perry Mesa Variety Olla

Approximate Dimensions: 16" by 12"

12N Hohokam Salt Red Bowl

Approximate Dimensions: 6 1/2" by 4 1/4"

This page last revised: 07/07/2011

We welcome your linking to our site, however all documents, webpages, photographs and images are the property of www.rarepottery.info. Written permission is required to copy, download or use any text, photographs or image files. Contact: rarepotteryinfo@aol.com

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	TYPE: Salt Red DATE: A.D. 1300-1450 (Wallace 2003;22) COMMON COLORS: Red often with "fire clouds". TREATMENT: Exteriors (and interiors of bowls) are usually highly polished. COMMENTS: Salt Red is a late Classic Period Redware (dating only to the Tucson and Civano Phases) that is considered by many to be the most highly polished and lustrous of all Hohokam ceramics. It is believed to have been produced along the Salt River. KEY DIFFERENCES: Salt Red usually doesn't have near the amount of mica in the temper compared to most Gila Red vessels and is noticeably more well polished also. The polishing or burnishing is often so well done, it is often difficult to see polishing striations. Many Gila Red vessels will have obvious polishing striations showing. Salt Red vessels are often thicker than Gila Red vessels. COMMENTS: Personally, this author feels that the four types: Salt Red, Salt Red Smudged, Gila Red and Gila Red Smudged, should only be two types: Salt Red and Gila Red. Salt and Gila Reds (that are not smudged from the Salt and Gila River areas) may be rare in the Classic Period. When talking about Salt Red and Gila Red in the Classic Period, Haury stated: "Smudged vessels outnumber the unsmudged by a large ratio at all times". (Haury, 1945;81). One must also consider the possibility that a number of smudged vessels went thru an intentional or accidental secondary firing and became unsmudged. Truly intentional unsmudged Gila Red and Salt Red in the Classic Period from the Salt and Gila River areas may be rare indeed. Personally, this author feels that smudged and unsmudged Gila and Salt Reds should simply be varieties of the two types. It should be noted that Salt Red Perry Mesa Variety and Verde Variety are commonly not smudged (Wood, 1987;32). 1Y Hohokam Salt Red Large Bowl. You can see the anvil marks on the interior of this bowl. Approximate Dimensions: 14" by 7 1/8" 2Y Hohokam Salt Red Effigy Vessel Approximate Dimensions: 4 3/4" by 4 1/2" 3Y Hohokam Salt Red Vase Approximate Dimensions: 3 3/4" by 3 1/2" 4N Hohokam Salt Red (Perry Mesa Variety) 5N Hohokam Salt Red Pitcher 6N Hohokam Salt Red Olla 7Y Hohokam Salt Red Bowl (Classic Shoulder) Approximate Dimensions: 6 1/2" by 3 1/2" 8Y Hohokam Salt Red Flat Bottom Bowl Approximate Dimensions: 7 1/2" by 3 1/2" 9Y Hohokam Salt Red Perry Mesa Variety Approximate Dimensions: 6 1/8" by 4 7/8" 10Y Hohokam Salt Red Perry Mesa Variety Approximate Dimensions: 6 3/8" by 4 3/4" 11Y Hohokam Salt Red Perry Mesa Variety Olla Approximate Dimensions: 16" by 12" 12N Hohokam Salt Red Bowl Approximate Dimensions: 6 1/2" by 4 1/4" This page last revised: 07/07/2011 Copyright: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 All Rights Reserved. We welcome your linking to our site, however all documents, webpages, photographs and images are the property of www.rarepottery.info. Written permission is required to copy, download or use any text, photographs or image files. Contact: rarepotteryinfo@aol.com