This Mata Ortiz Fish, as with all pottery from this village, was hand-created without a potter’s wheel. Its form has become a fish, beginning as a gourd-shaped piece formed by Señor Ortiz’s hands.
Eli Ortiz is so well known for his extraordinary creation of highly dense, very detailed Paquime designs that hearken back to his ancestors' time. Black is very challenging to photograph. I have used different light intensities and angles to show a good cross-section of how this piece appears, depending on where it sits.
This fish is very realistic in its form; you can nearly see it swimming in the air. It has two small, sharply pronounced circle impressions for eyes. Its oval, sideways mouth adds to the illusion of it breathing.
Señor Ortiz's creations are made from materials sourced from the surrounding environment. The design is his own personal creation in a traditional style. Extensive time is spent forming, hand-etching, and firing this pottery to create the amazing black surface. The ceramic comprises both a flat black finish and a shiny, metallic polish. Señor Ortiz's work is highly sought after. His signature is on the bottom.