Mata Ortiz Village – Paquimé / Casas Grandes Tradition – Mezcla Marbled Clay Seed Pot

 

On top of the Mezcla marbled clay seed pot are painted red and black designs.

 

Mata Ortiz is a relatively recent, but exceptional, entrant to the Southwest Indian clay pottery artisan heritage.  Dating back to the 1980s, Mata Ortiz pottery is a recreation of the Mogollon pottery found in and around the archeological site of Casas Grandes (Paquimé) in the Mexican state of Chihuahua.

 

Named after the modern town of Mata Ortiz, which is near the archeological site, the style was propagated by Juan Quezada. Quezada learned on his own to recreate this ancient pottery and then went on to update it. By the mid 1970s, Quezada was selling his pottery and teaching family and friends to make it and the pottery was able to penetrate the U.S. markets.  By the 1990s, the pottery was being shown in museums and other cultural institutions and sold in fine galleries. The success of the pottery, which is sold for its aesthetic rather than its utilitarian value, has brought the town of Mata Ortiz out of poverty, with most of its population earning income from the industry, directly or indirectly.

When looking at the pictures, you will see two different colors for the pot - the darker color is the more accurate representation of the pot (seen in the four side-view pictures).  The other pictures show a good representation of the designs, but the background color is not as light as depicted.

Approximately 4” tall x 7 ¾” wide with a 1 ¾” wide opening

Incised Signature – Hilario Quezada

 

Obtained in person on one of many trips to the Southwest Indian Pueblos in the 1990s or early 2000s.  

 

We make every effort to take good pictures in good lighting.  Please review carefully for potential imperfections.  These are hand-made items.