23 Jul 2014 Unique Shaped Potteries of Mexico

If you love pottery, you can never avoid Mexican pottery from your collection list! Mexican pottery is rich in art, craft and color and this vibrant combination art, craft and color date back thousands of years before Pre-Columbian period when ceramic arts and pottery crafts developed with the first advanced civilizations and cultures of Mesoamerica.

Hand Painted Clay Pottery of Mexico

Today, ceramics are still produced from traditional items such as dishes, kitchen utensils to new items such as sculptures and folk art. Despite the fame of the prior, the bulk of ceramic items produced in the country are floor and wall tiles along with bathroom fixtures. Mexico has a number of well-known artisan ceramic traditions, most of which are in the centre and south of the country. Examples are the Talavera of Puebla, the majolica of Guanajuato, the various wares of the Guadalajara area, and barro negro of Oaxaca. A more recent addition is the production of Mata Ortiz or Pakimé wares in Chihuahua. While the number of artisans has been dropping due to competition from mass-produced items, the production of folk art and fine ware still has an important role in the Mexican economy and the production of pottery in general is still important to Mexican culture.

Pear Shaped Mexican Vase

The most interesting thing about Mexican pottery are the unique shapes of the vessels and the vases that they produce. This too has an interesting story behind it. At first, it was all stoneware that was in use in Mexico for their daily livelihood. Soon, the making of earthenware began to replace stone utensils and then by keeping in mind the utilitarian purpose many of their ceramics were gourd or squash shaped, a carry over from when these vegetables were used to carry liquids. Till to this day the traditional style continues in the shapes though Mexican pottery is more about decorative purpose now.

 Ceramic is the most practised craft in Mexico. Shapes and function of the pieces vary from simple flat bases, used for making tortillas to elaborate sculptures. Most potters work in family workshops, with everyone participating in the process. The skills of pottery making are passed down from generation after generation. Pottery making families tend to be secretive about their practices and rarely cooperate with anyone outside the family for any aspect of the pottery making process.

A Southwest Style Round Vase from Mexico

But there is a sad story about Mexican pottery as well. Despite the support and interest in traditional Mexican ceramics, the number of artisans is dropping. In 1994, there were just over 1.5 million ceramic artisans in the country, which dropped to 50,000 by 2006. This made craftsmen almost non-existent in some states. Majolica is no longer being produced in Aguascalientes and the number of workshops in Guanajuato state has been cut in half in recent years. In major cities such as Mexico City and Monterrey, there is only a handful. One reason for this is that many craft products are being replaced by cheaper pewter and plastic wares. Another reason is that many from craft producing areas have left to work in the United States.

Support the cause to enliven this beautiful craft and see the difference you can bring into the world of handicraft.

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