In Northern New Mexico, along the foothills and high in the mountains of the Sangre De Christo Range, lie several Pueblos that developed their own distinctive pottery traditions.  Much of the clay ocurring in protected areas, closely guarded by these potters for centuries, is full of the mineral mica. 

This mineral, responsible for the sparkly appearance of the vessels made from the Northern clays, allows the clay to be worked without the addition of tempering agents.  It is a wonderful binding agent and makes pots that are very strong, though traditionally very thin walled.  WQhen they are fired at higher temperatures, using the bark of the Pinon and Ponderosa pines, they become usable as cook ware.  One potter, very well known, from Nambe Pueblo -- Lonnie Vigil -- maintains that his pots can safely be put right on a gas stove flame, to be used as cookware.

The sparkling pottery from the Pueblos of Northern New Mexico is the last example of Pueblo pottery made for utilitarian purposes. The potters of Taos, Picuris, San Juan and Nambe Pueblos still create beautiful pieces with wonderful, symmetrical forms. These pots are traditionally not decorated with either painted or slipped decoration. Decorated pottery is made also at all Northern Pueblos except Picuris, whose simple bean pots are prized for their ability to add special flavor to meals prepared in them.  During wood firing, changes in temperature and flares or smoke may "cloud" the surface with unusual, naturally placed markings. Each pot becomes absolutely unique, marked beautifully, like the example, below. They darken with age and use in cooking.

The Glittery Nambe, Picuris & Taos Pottery