Ware Name: Hispanic Utility-Plain Ware

First posted by C. Dean Wilson 2014

Hispanic Plain Ware refers to forms thought to reflect the adoption of a Pueblo plain ware technology by Hispanic villagers during the later spans of the Spanish Colonial Perod. Plain ware forms produced by Pueblo potters since the early Colonial period could have been easily been produced and used by individuals in Hispanic villages given these forms seem to have been the result of a series of innovations that resulted in simple and similar forms reflecting mass production designed to effectively meet the everyday needs of Hispanic households in villages and settlements scattered across the New Mexico frontier. Pottery, reflecting vessels that may have been produced by Hispanic potters, are often difficult to distinguish from analogous Pueblo forms, but attempts have been made to distinguish Hispanic types by their common occurrence on Hispanic villages, the presence of temper and pastes distinct from those noted in contemporaneous Pueblo forms, quality of workmanship, and the occurrence of traits or decorations not normally noted in contemporaneous Pueblo pottery types (Brody 1966; Carillo 1997; Dick 1968; Hurt and Dick 1946). Types described in this document have so far been limited to forms exhibiting surface or slipped treatments not normally noted in historic Pueblo types, but descriptions of other types defined based on difference in pastes and temper may be presented later.

Related Types

• Carnue Gray Utility
• Casitas Red-on-brown
• Hispanic (Manzano) Polished Black
• Hispanic Micaceous
• Valencia (Salinas) White