San Bernardo Polychrome was described by Colton (1956). This type has been placed into Polacca Yellow Wares and along with Payupiki Polychrome directly precedes contemporary Hopi yellow wares and was produced during much of the seventeenth century. Example assigned to this type resemble Sikyatki Polychrome, out of which it ultimately developed, although decorated pottery associated with early Spanish Mission types have been described as thick, soft and clunky with crudely executed designs (Colton 1956), and changes appear to reflect the beginning of shift to dung firing and other influences during the first part of the Spanish Colonial period.

Surfaces are red, buff or orange and paste exhibit a bright yellow or buff core. Decorated surfaces are polished unslipped and are exhibit fire clouds. Forms include bowls, ollas, dippers and globular jars. Temper consists of small amounts clay, sand, and small angular fragments reflecting with slight differenced from earlier Jeddito Yellow ware types indicating either different clay sources or slightly less processing of the clay. The brownish black to brownish red pint reflets the use of a mineral figment. Designs reflect Spanish and other Pueblo influence and as compared to earlier Jeddito Yellow ware types, vessels are heavy, poorly constructed, and sloppily painted (Lammon and Harlow 1990). Design motifs include stars, flowers, butterflies, crosses, circles, figures, and feather motifs. Kachina designs common in Sikyatki Polychrome are absent. Rims commonly exhibit ticks in red or black lines.

References:
1956 Colton, Harold. Pottery Types of the Southwest. Museum of Northern Arizona Ceramic Series No. 3. Flagstaff, Arizona.

1990 Frank, Larry, and F.H. Harlow Historic Pottery of the Pueblo Indians. Schiffer Publishing Ltd, West Chester Pennsylvania.

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San Bernardo bowl

San Bernardo Polychrome jar sherds

San Bernardo jar sherds

San Bernardo Polychrome sherds

San Bernardo Polychrome dipper

San Bernardo Polychrome bowl

San Bernardo Polychrome jar