Salado Pueblo Smudge Bowl

1200 Century

4.5" H x 7" D

Hand Coiled with a Black Inside and Red Outside Smudge Bowl

In Very Good Condition with Typical Aged Wear

A Salado Pueblo smudge bowl is a type of prehistoric pottery vessel from the Salado culture (also associated with Ancestral Puebloan traditions), which flourished roughly between AD 1150–1450 in the American Southwest, particularly in areas of central Arizona (like the Tonto Basin and Upper Salt River region) and extending into parts of New Mexico.

A smudged interior — a firing technique where organic material (like dung or plant matter) was introduced in the reduction phase to create a glossy black, carbon-soaked finish on the inside of the bowl. The exterior often remains red or red-slipped (sometimes with white-on-red decoration), giving a striking contrast. This smudging produced a smooth, waxy, waterproof surface, likely useful for holding liquids or ceremonial purposes.