Weaving The process by which two sets of threads or any substance are interlaced at right angles to form a continuous web.

Woodcut A relief printmaking method in which a block of wood is carved so as to leave the image areas raised from the background. Also the resultant print.

American Indian Terms

Acoma A New Mexican Pueblo, famous for white pottery, most of which is painted with fine geometric lines; one of the oldest inhabited cities in North America.

Anasazi The Prehistoric Pueblo Indians of the area; sometimes referred to as the

Ancient Ones' Believed to be the ancestors of today's Pueblo Indians.

Avanu (Water Serpent) often seen in Native American art of the Southwest, particularly pottery, represents the prayer for and representation of water, critical for life in the southwest.

Black on Black A style of pottery developed by Maria and Julian Martinez of San Ildefonso Pueblo. It is characterized by two shades of black; one highly polished and the other a dull matte.

Burnishing A process of producing a polished, shiny surface by rubbing a smooth stone over the surface of pots or bowls after application of the slip.

Cochiti A Pueblo, famous for figurative clay work such as storytellers.

Coil method A pottery term; the potter rolls a long rope of clay, which is coiled around on top of itself, forming the desired shape. In the coil-and-shape method, the walls of the pot are thinned, shaped, and smoothed by scraping with a smooth tool.

Concha The Spanish term for shell; may be oval or round, frequently with scalloped edges, with or without stones; may appear in rings, pendants, bolos, buckles and belts. Now most often a Navajo design for a belt.

Corn A powerful symbol in many tribes, used as a design on jewelry, pottery and weavings as respect and a prayer for fertility and a good growing season; also used if the artist is a member of the corn clan

Engraved Ruts or lines scratched into a metal surface

Etched Design formed in pottery by removing surface of pottery.

Fetish Used and made by all Southwestern Indian tribes, fetishes are objects, which represent the spirits of animals or the forces of nature. Originally fetishes were simple stones (or shells, turquoise or bone) which seemed to resemble people or animals.

Fire Cloud An irregular marking on the exterior of pottery.

Heishi A Pueblo term literally meaning shell; discs or tubes with a hole in the center, usually of turquoise, coral, shell, or other materials. The Santo Domingo Pueblo people are known for fine heishi

Hopi A tribe in Northern Arizona, known for distinctive overlay silver jewelry, pottery and Kachina dolls.

Jacldas (Jackclaws) string loop of turquoise beads hanging from turquoise necklace, originally used as earrings.

Kachina Dolls A form of religious folk art attributed mostly to the Hopi. The dolls are wooden images, which represent Hopi spirit dancers.

Liquid Silver A type of necklace or bracelet constructed of very thin, fine, small silver.

Matte Pottery A dull surface finish far less glossy than the burnished black or red ware. Most pottery from Hopi, Acoma, Zia and Picuris is matte

Naja The centerpiece of a squashblossom necklace; crescent-shaped pendant, has Moorish derivation