Etched Tortoise Motif Mata Ortiz Pottery:
Weight - 7 ounces
Height - 2.5 inches
Width - 4.5 inches
A ring is provided with all my pottery.
This beautiful low profile shaped pot is a creation of Señor Humberto Piña. It features a large tortoise encompassing the entire top half. The bottom half reveals a wild pinwheel design. This design goes back a thousand years to Señor Piñas ancestors, the Paquime.
The Artists' style is immediately recognizable. When using white clay to build these ollas, any glaze applied to it and etched down to the underlying white will create wonderful sharp edges and pronounced detail, as in this piece. As with most creations coming out of Mata Ortiz, this pottery also has a strong influence from the villagers ancient ancestors.
This Etched Tortoise Motif Mata Ortiz Pottery is signed by Señor Humberto Piña. A search of his name will bring you to some fascinating pieces of his artistry. Please be sure to see the short video of the pottery.
Visit my store to see my other Mata Ortiz pottery.
____________________________________________________________________________________________
In the 1970s, a young man began experimenting with recreating ancient pottery he came across. He used the same clay sand mixtures made from materials found in the area where the ancients lived and made their pottery. The same firing techniques using the same local materials eventually created the same magnificent results. Half a century later, much of the village of Mata Ortiz has adopted these incredible skills for creating masterpieces, with each artist contributing their sense of beauty. The designs are bold, earthy, and individualistic.
Paint brushes consisting of one or two human hairs create the finest lines. Paints are developed from minerals found in the surrounding desert. These creations are truly unique transformations that can only be made by this small village from its soil.