Mata Ortiz Mexican Casas Grandes Small Vessels Pottery Set of 4

Late 20th Century

(A) 2.375" H x 1.875"D (B) 2.125" H x 2" D (C) 2.25" H x 2" D (D) 3.125" H x 3.25" D 

Hand Coiled with Glossy and Matte Geometric Designs and 1 with Cutout Triangle Design Set of 4 Pots

In Very Good Condition

Mata Ortiz pottery, also known as Casas Grandes pottery, is a renowned form of Mexican ceramic art originating from the small village of Mata Ortiz in the state of Chihuahua, near the ancient archaeological site of Paquimé (Casas Grandes). This tradition revives and reinterprets the sophisticated Mogollon-style pottery from a pre-Columbian civilization that flourished centuries ago before mysteriously vanishing.

The revival began in the 1960s–1970s when Juan Quezada Celado, a local resident, discovered ancient pottery shards while gathering firewood. Through trial and error, he recreated the techniques using local clays, natural pigments, and open-pit firing (often with cow dung or wood). He then taught his family and eventually the entire community, transforming Mata Ortiz from a struggling village into a thriving hub of artisans—now with hundreds of potters producing world-class work.