Southern Appalachian Digital Collections

Western Carolina University (20) View all

Pottery: lamp

  • wcu_craft_revival-6374.jpg
  • This undated pottery oil lamp was made by Cherokee potter, Cora Arch Wahnetah (1907-1986), whose name was also spelled, Cora Wahyahneetah. A shallow stable bowl form was used to burn oil to create light. The handle of this particular oil lamp is patterned with incised and impressed designs. To make this piece, earthenware clay was shaped using the coil method, and was burnished to a high sheen, before before lightly insicing the details into the handle.