27 Aug 2014 Narrow Necked Mexican Vase

Native American pottery is an art form with at least a 7500-year history in the Americas.Pottery is fired ceramics with clay as a component. The usage of ceramics started for utilitarian cooking vessels, serving and storage vessels, and gradually the craft developed and extended its creation towards the making of funerary urns, vases, musical instruments, ceremonial items, masks, toys, sculptures and a numerous other art forms.

Southwest Pottery from Mexico

There are various types of pottery that gets created in various styles across the country. Here is an overview:

Oaxaca State: Here both functional and decorative pottery and ceramic pieces are produced. The two best known pottery traditions are “barro negro” and the green-glazed pieces of Santa María Atzompa. Barro negro (black clay) pottery is a style of pottery distinguished by its color, sheen and unique designs.

Hopi Style Pottery from Mexico

Jalisco: A wide variety of traditional low-fire and some high fire ceramics are made in the Guadalajara area, ranging from cheap objects to artistic productions. The two main pottery producing places are Tonalá and Tlaquepaque. Tonalá has long been recognized as a center for ceramics in Mexico. The streets are filled with artisan workshops and sidewalks stalls selling pottery and stoneware. Tlaquepaque hosts the Pantalen Panduro National Ceramics Prize Museum, which exhibits the prize winners of the annual national prize given to ceramics makers.

Puebla: Talavera pottery of Puebla, Mexico is a type of majolica ceramic, which is distinguished by a milky-white glaze. Authentic Talavera pottery only comes from the city of Puebla and the nearby communities, because of the quality of the natural clay found there and a tradition of production that dates to the 16th century. 

Conical Hopi Style Pottery Vase from Mexico

The village of Juan Mata Ortiz is located along the banks of the Palanganas River near Nuevo Casas Grandes in the high northern plains of Chihuahua. The place became famous for the Mata Ortiz pottery.

Amongst many types of Mexican pottery, Craft Montaz has selected the narrow necked style vases from the Hopi potters. The painting style is unique and fits well for home and offices with modern décor.

By: Pushpita, a freelance writer on world handicrafts and lifestyle. Pushpita holds a Masters in English literature and is a rich media professional.