Mata Ortiz is a small village in the northern Mexico Chihuahuan area, only 14 miles from the ruins of the Paquime area, which dates to the 13th century as the largest cultural settlement in what is now the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. As an ancient cultural center, it was known for the exquisite pottery produced there. After the Mexican Revolution, the families in Mata Ortiz scratched out a living. It was into this environment that Juan Quezada, his parents and 9 siblings lived. As a child, Juan would wander into the mountains where he would find shards of ancient pottery and study the patterns in and the composition of the clay. Through boyish curiosity, he later discovered the ancient “formula” for the clay and began crafting pots after the ancient method. As he perfected his craft, he taught his siblings and later a friend, Felix Ortiz, to also make pottery. Today, highly skilled artisans of Mata Ortiz create pottery using the original Paquime designs and method. The pots are not made with a potter’s wheel, but are, instead, made with the coil and pinch method, where coils of clay are rolled, stacked, pinched and rubbed smooth to form the shape of the vessel. This is a much slower way to produce pots, but the results are breath-taking. The potters also use local ores and minerals to color their clay.

Ana Trillo is a well-respected and sought-after potter. This tan clay pot is covered in matte black and burnt red geometric designs and perhaps small animal faces and sea creatures. Each side of the pot features a larger fish in matte black; there’s hardly any spot that doesn’t have decoration Measuring 6 1/2” at its widest and 9 1/4” tall, this pot veers from her usual red clay creations. The rounded bottom is signed Ana Trillo and does require a ring to display it. The piece is in excellent condition with no cracks or chips. There is one slight rub mark, and there are also some faint lines in the pot from the stone polishing.

Ana has her own studio and posts her biography on her website: ”I was born January 26th, 1970. I was brought up in El Rucio a very small community nine miles south of Mata Ortiz, where I lived to the age of 15. I then moved to Mata Ortiz where shortly after that I began to raise my family and start to learn about making pottery. I have four boys who are all trained as potters as well. My boys are Adrian, Ricardo, Martin and Daniel.

I have had the opportunity to travel a lot in the United States doing shows and pottery making demonstrations. One of my goals is to continue learning English so that I can better tell about the history of Mata Ortiz pottery. I continue to live and create beautiful pottery in Mata Ortiz and I have a Gallery and Studio at my home. Pottery and painting are my passion but I feel the purpose for my life is to share my art with the world.”

This would be a wonderful addition to your pottery collection.


Condition:
Alterations: Original Condition Unaltered
Imperfections: Some Imperfections
Condition Notes: Only a few marks from being moved on a shelf

Origin:
Mexico

Materials & Techniques:
Clay

International: No International Shipping for this auction.
Combined shipping: Please ask about combined shipping for multiple lots before bidding.

Original Condition Unaltered; Some Imperfections; Only a few marks from being moved on a shelf