Paipai Potters
Southeast of San Jose de la Zorra live the Paipai Indian people. One area of craft specialization is the production of clay vessels called ollas. Pottery has been practiced in California for only about 500 years. It was never developed in Northern California, although there was a small amount, some say, that entered Eastern Central California through Nevada, but that tradition never developed very far because basketry reigned supreme.
The clay is dug from the earth by the potters. In some places the right to dig it is strictly controlled, but not in San Jose. It is dried and ground to a fine powder on a metate with a mano. The powder is wetted with juice from the cactus and a non-absorbent, non-shrinking agent called 'temper' is added to control shrinking and cracking while drying and firing. After forming the olla by coiling ropes of clay and compacting and smoothing the sides using a "paddle and anvil" (this is the name for this type of pottery making), the vessel is allowed to dry. Then a pit is used to fire the clay to make it durable and strong. This is almost the only source of income for these Paipai Indian people who, like the Kumeyaay, have homes with dirt floors, no electricity, nor running water.
The pottery meets many social needs and serves a myriad of practical functions. It is used to boil acorn mush over a fire. It is used to hold and store water, food, and valuables at home or cached in a remote location. Now it even can be traded for American dollars at craft sales.
Pottery is especially useful for storing water in a dry desert clime. The earthenware produced by pit firing is rather porous and the capillary action draws a thin layer of water through the body of the clay. As this layer evaporates the walls of clay cool; the faster it evaporates the cooler the clay. Thus the water within the olla remains several degrees cooler than the surrounding air. When the capillaries that wick the water from the inside of the olla to the outside clog with minerals that naturally occur in the water then the pot is used for cooking, since it is now leak proof.
The pottery is available for sale at various Pow Wows and Fiestas in Southern California.
Here is a great article by Paul Campbell on Southern California pottery.