22 Sep 2014 Nicaraguan Pottery
Nicaraguan pottery is a product of a profound cultural heritage. Scholars consider these ornately decorated potteries to have been the most valuable commodity during the pre-Columbian times.
Most of the beautiful pieces of Nicaraguan pottery are hand-crafted by artisans from the San Juan de Oriente, Nicaragua, a village with a long history of pottery making. Known as the pottery capital, the small village of San Juan de Oriente is located 40 kilometers south of Managua, the capital of Nicaragua.
Black Sand Vase
Most of Nicaragua’s pottery comes from this village. Here, the potters are well known for their excellent clay work. Every artisan in this village works in small family groups and their art is a tradition passed down from generation to generation. Every piece is signed by the individual artist who created it. San Juan de Oriente is still quite undeveloped and it is very common to see ox carts carrying clay from the fields into town in burlap sacks.
Nicaraguan Etched Green Vase with Pedestal
Making pottery in Nicaragua begins with the preparation of the clay and shaping of each individual piece. Each piece is thrown on a kick wheel, glazed, burnished with a soft stone and carved with home-made tools. The pottery pieces are polished to remove stones, smoothed out and left ready for the application of color. Designs are drawn or traced onto the pieces with a pencil using different colored natural mineral oxides. Colors are applied with paintbrushes and once dried each piece is smoothed, polished and dried again over the course of a week. All of the Nicaraguan pottery is for decorative use only and not recommended to hold water. This is due to the low temperature firing process from the simple, natural fuels used in the simple brick and mud kilns.
Engraved Terracotta Vase from Nicaragua
Each Nicaraguan pottery tells a story of its own. These fine southwestern art pieces are perfect for any décor and will be cherished for generations. So, own a pottery from Nicaraguan artist and I bet you’ll be proud.
Pushpita is a freelance writer on world handicrafts and lifestyle. Pushpita holds a Masters in English literature and is a rich media professional.