History of Mexican Pottery
Mexican pottery has a long history tracing back to pre-Columbian times. From the Olmecs to the Aztecs, Mexican pottery is varied and unique.
Art historian Herbert Read said, "A people's creativity, its sensitivity and its finesse can all be appreciated through its pottery." This is certainly true with the Mexican people and their art.
Other People Are Reading
-
Olmecs
-
According to the Fine Mexican Ceramics Art Gallery, the Olmec culture is considered to be "mother of the Mesoamerican cultures." From this culture sprung the inspiration for Mexican cultures after it, especially with regards to its art and pottery. The Olmec culture lasted between 1500 BC and 800 AD, with some of the cultures' ceramics still surviving today in the cities of La Venta, Tres Zapotes, Tajin and San Lorenzo.
Mark Rose, in his article "Olmec People, Olmec Art" in "Archaeology," a publication of the Archaeological Institute of America, wrote that the artistic style of Olmec pottery was "thick, excised designs, and hollow 'baby' figurines with distinct Olmec features."
Teotihuacans
-
The Teotihuacan culture existed between 100 BC and 800 AD, alongside the Olmec culture. According to the Fine Mexican Ceramics Art Gallery, Teotihuacans used clay for their pottery and stucco, paint and smoothing techniques for decorating.
According to, Dr. Nicholas M. Hellmuth, the Director of the Foundation for Latin American Anthropological Research, between the third and seventh centuries AD, Teotihuacan culture, including their art, spread throughout Mexico and parts of Central America. By using molds, Teotihuacans were able to mass produce their clay pottery. War was a common theme in Teotihuacan pottery paintings discovered by archaeologists.
-
Casas Grandes
-
From 100 AD to 1360 AD, the Casas Grandes culture created polychrome ceramics with geometric patterns, according to the Fine Mexican Ceramics Art Gallery. Today the tradition continues with Master Potter Juan Quezada. Casas Grandes, also known as Mata Ortiz pottery, is created by the community of Mata Ortiz, led by Quezada. They create contemporary pottery influenced by centuries old Casas Grandes techniques.
Aztecs
-
Probably the most varied of ceramics in Mexican culture comes from the Aztecs. The Aztecs, from 1325 AD to 1521 AD, used red and orange clay to make plates, cups, pots and jugs, according to the Fine Mexican Ceramics Art Gallery. The black-on-orange style is a familiar technique of the Aztecs. The colors black, white, red and orange were popular in designs.
Michael Ernest Smith, in his book "The Aztecs," writes that in the late period of Aztec history, "a single style of painted ceramic, called Aztec III Black-on-Orange, came to dominate the inventories of households in the Valley of Mexico. The painted designs on these ceramics are simple and busy, with many thin parallel lines combined with other motifs."
Spanish Influence
-
Talavera pottery is the result of Spanish influence on Mexican ceramics. According to May Herz, a writer and expert on Mexican history, Talavera pottery is a type of majolica earthenware. It is distinguished by a white glaze, a technique going back to the 16th century. It is still produced today in the city of Puebla and nearby towns due to the quality of clay in the region.
-
References
- Photo Credit majolica ceramics. image by Robert Crum from Fotolia.com
