Mata Ortiz Pottery Casas Grandes Polychrome Pot Olla (Bottom Ground), Mexican Pottery

$178.00

This old Mata Ortiz pot was hand coiled and fired the traditional way, in a pit--hence we see fire clouds around the surface. The pot originally had a rounded bottom, which was ground down so the piece would sit flat. There are other condition flaws, including small chips along the rim of the pot's mouth. Still, it is a beautiful piece with a deep ochre design on both sides, the "flower" part filled in and the "leaves" part left as outline. The fire clouds throughout add a smoky, prehistoric look to the piece, and in fact, this simple design is similar to the prehistoric pottery of the Paquimé that inspired a resurgence in contemporary times. The olla has all of this going for it not to mention the beauty of those simple, classic lines. If you do not know about Mata Ortiz pottery, here is background from a Santa Fe gallery that specializes in fine art pottery: "Mata Ortiz is a small settlement inside the bounds of the Casas Grandes municipality very near the site of Paquimé. The fortunes of the town have gone up and down over the years with a real economic slump happening after the local railroad repair yard was relocated to Nuevo Casas Grandes in the early 1960's. The town was in steady decline until Juan Quezada, a poor farmer who gathered firewood in the area of the archaeological site, found fragments of ancient Paquimé pottery and even older fragments of Mimbres forms with bold black-on-white designs littering the ground. Those pot shards inspired him to recreate how that pottery had first been made. Quezada was successful in his quest to recreate the ancient process using slightly more modern techniques (although no one in the present tradition uses a potter's wheel). He learned to use sand and other coarse materials for temper. He discovered that dried cow dung made an excellent and inexpensive firing fuel. Instead of using gourds for smoothing he substituted broken hacksaw blades. Instead of using yucca fiber brushes for painting he learned to make brushes with human baby hair. He persevered in his efforts and by 1971 had produced a kind of polychrome pottery. Since then, most pottery-making in the area has used innovations in the design and decoration of the pots but the materials and the basic crafting of the process have remained the same. By the mid-1970's, Quezada had attracted a significant number of traders and his work was becoming a commercial success. That is when he began teaching his techniques to his immediate family. They in turn taught other family members, friends and the younger generations. Both women and men were included from the beginning. Contemporary Mata Ortiz pottery was mistakenly called Casas Grandes prehistoric pottery in the early years of its production. But the potters of this tiny village have made such an impact on the pottery communities, including many awards and special recognition from the Presidents of Mexico, that Mata Ortiz pottery is now becoming known around the world. Today, pottery production has changed the village in many ways as there is now electricity, plumbing, vehicles and more for the residents. Virtually everyone in the small town (2010 population: 1,182) makes their living by working in some part of the pottery-making process, from potters to clay-gatherers to firewood collectors to traders. Mata Ortiz pottery incorporates elements of contemporary and prehistoric design and decoration, and each potter or pottery family produces their own distinctive, individualized ware. Young potters from surrounding areas have been attracted to the Mata Ortiz revival and new potting families have developed while the art movement continues to expand. Without the restraints of traditional religious practices or gender constraints, a vibrant flow of new ideas has enabled the pottery of Mata Ortiz to avoid the derivative repetition common to virtually all folk art movements. This blend of economic need, gender equality, cultural expression and artistic freedom has produced a unique artistic movement in today's community."

This pot is medium-sized, measuring about 6" tall by about 7" in diameter, and the mouth is 3-3/4" in diameter. Weighs 1.13 pounds. The walls are fairly thick, and again, the bottom of the pot is ground flat in one spot (see Photo 4) and there are small fleabites and what I would characterize as a small chip along the rim (see Photos 5 and 6). The piece has been discounted for those flaws.

A powerful piece of Mexico.

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Please convo with questions, or call (505) 369-6865. Will return your call as soon as possible.

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