Ware Name: Tsegi Orange Ware

First posted by C. Dean Wilson 2013

Tsegi Orange Wares represent some of the most distinct pottery produced in the Southwest and were made with Chinle formations clays in the greater Kayenta area (Gilipin and Gilipin-Hays 2012). The earliest Tsegi orange ware types consist of black-on-red forms that appear to have begun as local copies of Northern San Juan red wares such as Deadmans Black-on-red. Thus, the continuation of the production of similar red wares as part of these two traditions may ultimately reflect a southward movement of populations at about A.D. 1050. By the mid eleventh century forms were commonly decorated with hachured designs, common on white wares found across the Southwest, as reflected by the production of Tusayan Black-on-red. By the early twelfth century the black mineral paint was combined with decorations in red clay over orange surfaces resulting in the production of polychrome types. By the mid thirteenth century white outlines were added to produce three and four color geometric designs. Tsegi Orange Ware types are reflected by a wide variety of forms characterized by an orange to red paste and crushed sherd and sand temper. Types are decorated with mineral paint which can include various combinations in black, red, and white pigments. Pottery defined for this tradition are assigned to a variety of types based on combinations of slip, pigments, and styles utilized during different time-spans (Colton 1956; Smith 1971).

Related Types

• Cameron Polychrome
• Citadel Polychrome
• Kayenta Polychrome
• Kiet Siel Polychrome
• Medicine Black-on-red
• Tsegi Black-on-orange
• Tsegi Orange - Red-on-orange
• Tsegi Polychrome
• Tusayan Black-on-red
• Tusayan Polychrome