Typological and Iconographic Analyses of Casas Grandes Pottery at the Milwaukee Public Museum

Abstract

This thesis presents the results of analyses conducted on 80 ceramic vessels from the Casas Grandes region (Chihuahua, Mexico) currently housed at the Milwaukee Public Museum (MPM). This collection, most of which was donated in 1977, was accompanied with little to no provenience information, and no research has been conducted on the materials since they came to the Museum. Drawing upon published studies of Casas Grandes pottery, a detailed coding scheme was developed in order to record formal and stylistic data that could be used to classify the vessels typologically and chronologically. Fifteen different ceramic types dating to the Viejo and Medio Periods (AD 700-1475) were identified. Iconographic analysis was also conducted to determine the stylistic patterning represented in the collection, thus allowing it to be compared to similar collections at other institutions in the United States, several of which were visited as part of my research. This thesis demonstrates the significant insights that can be gained by analyzing unprovenienced museum collections. It also will allow the Casas Grandes collection to be used at the Museum or in the Milwaukee community for research, programming, and/or exhibition.