US $99.99
Mata Ortiz Pottery; Art Emerges From Historical Mystery
The origin of the now world-famous Mata Ortiz pottery is unique and mystifying. In northwest Mexico, 156 miles south of Deming, New Mexico there is the small town of Juan Mata Ortiz. The town is located in an area called Casas Grandes ("big houses") that once was a thriving population of indigenous people named Paquime. These people lived a well-developed life for their time (1130-1400 AD). Archaeologists and anthropologists have discovered evidences of sophisticated water storage and supply systems consisting of storage tanks and canals and a sewer system that allowed waste to be carried away from their pueblos. They lived in large, multi-storied adobe and wood buildings with many rooms. It is estimated that some of the pueblos may have had up to 2500 inhabitants. They raised scarlet macaw birds which they perhaps used in religious ceremonies. They also made bells and ornaments from copper and, most importantly, they were especially adept at producing earthenware pottery that was decorated with intricate detailing and designs. The ruins at Paquime would produce a large selection of Native American Indian pottery.
No one has been able to figure out how such a dynamic civilization could literally disappear from the earth and leave behind so much evidence of their existence. Sometime in the 1500's the pueblos were abandoned. There may have been a severe long-term drought that forced them to move elsewhere. There may have been marauding tribes from the north that burned the pueblos to the ground. There are many possibilities to be considered, but none that can be for certain.
Casas Grande pottery found in the ruins of Paquime
One thing that is certain is that the discovery of shards of pottery by a young 12 year-old boy named Juan Quezada from the town of Juan Mata Ortiz, as he searched the Casas Grandes ruins for firewood, would be the inspiration for him to develop his own earthenware pottery. As he examined the shards he noted they were made from clay that could be found in the area. He determined how to make his own clay and mold it in to similar forms. He figured out how to harden the forms with heat from the fire of cattle dung. At first he mimicked the designs found on the ceramic remains of the Paquime. Then he began creating more of his own, unique designs and details. He became proficient enough that he decided to sell some of his pottery at the trading post in Deming, New Mexico.
The story from that point is remarkable. An American anthropologist named Spencer MacCullum made it a routine practice of visiting trading posts in the southwest. In 1976 he happened to stop in at the Deming trading post and he noticed the beautiful pottery that had been made by Juan Quezada. After inquiring about the origin of the pottery, he found his way to the town of Juan Mata Ortiz and the shop of Juan Quezada. He was so impressed with the quality and uniqueness of the work that he decided to provide money in advance to the potter to continue his artwork...and not necessarily only in pots. Juan became a mentor to members of his family and friends and taught them how to make the pottery and the artwork soon became a profitable business and a way of life for the town of Mata Ortiz. There are now over 400 potters working in the town and they each bring their own inspirations to their creations. Mata Ortiz pottery is now world renown, with many of the pieces on display in museums all over the globe.
Mata Ortiz Dazzler Pottery by Maria Antonia Mora
Beautiful Pottery
|
|
BEAUTIFUL HEAVY BLUE & BROWN POTTERY BOWL SERVING DISH $99.99 |
|
|
Beautiful Gray USA Pottery Pitcher $5.99 |
|
|
BEAUTIFUL Vintage California Pottery Lazy Susan-7 Pieces-One Of A Kind-VERY NICE $9.99 |
|
|
VINTAGE Beautiful GUTHBERTSON HOUSE Pottery PITCHER- Made in England $22.59 |
|
|
Beautiful Vintage Mary leigh Pottery Covered Jar Mde in Englan $10.00 |
|
|
BEAUTIFUL ANTIQUE ITALIAN - HANDPAINTED - FLORAL - UNIQUE - POTTERY PITCHER $12.99 |
|
|
VINTAGE AMERICAN INDIAN CERAMIC STONE BOWL BEAUTIFUL 6X3 POTTERY SALE NICE $14.99 |
|
|
Beautiful Seagrove, NC Pottery $15.50 |
|
|
BEAUTIFUL STONEWARE POTTERY VASE HANDTURNED NICE $4.95 |
|
|
BEAUTIFUL HAND CRAFTED VASE POTTERY SIGNED NICE $4.95 |
|
|
BEAUTIFUL HANDPAINTED ELLIS PROD POTTERY MARSHALL TEXAS APPLE BAKER $9.95 |
|
|
A BEAUTIFUL HAND PAINTED ORIENTAL WOMAN CERAMIC POTTERY WALL ART $9.99 |
|
|
BEAUTIFUL WILLIAMSGURG POTTERY CROCK, 6" TALL X 6" WIDE $19.99 |
|
|
VINTAGE WOODLAND HULL POTTERY PITCHER W3 - 5 1/2" BEAUTIFUL!!! $72.00 |
|
|
Very Beautiful Vintage Evangel Pottery New Mexico Trinket Jar Art Pottery $14.00 |
|
|
Beautiful Otagiri Small Ginger Jar Hand Painted Flower Pottery Japan Very Nice! $12.00 |
|
|
Beautiful Houston Pottery Casserole Dish $9.99 |
|
|
Beautiful Vintage Decorative Japanese Pottery Weeping Vase "Made in Japan"-Rare! $19.99 |
|
|
A BEAUTIFUL ORIENTAL POTTERY BOWL $9.99 |
|
|
USA Pottery Vase Beautiful Colors Burnt Orange Yellow Green Darker Base $20.00 |
|
|
Vintage New Devon Studio Pottery Vase Beautiful Glaze $7.89 |
|
|
Beautiful Georgetown Pottery Maine Lighthouse Hand Made Oil Lamps Signed & Dated $41.50 |
|
|
Roseville Pottery Lamp Grape Vine Design Beautiful Roseville Lamp Deep Red $385.99 |
|
|
Roseville Pottery Pinecone 910-10 Beautiful Display Piece!!! $299.00 |
|
|
Pottery Stoneware Zanesville Beautiful Matt Bowl Type Art Pottery Vintage $69.99 |
|
|
Art Pottery 51/2"x51/2" Beautiful Vase #6 Zanesville Vintage Pottery $54.99 |
|
|
9" SPANISH POTTERY PLATE BY PLATART.S.L.,BEAUTIFUL AND COLORFUL IN BLUE,RED&GOLD $50.00 |
|
|
Beautiful Gres Pottery small decorative basket blue lustre $19.99 |
|
|
Beautiful Small Pottery Vase Signed Unreadable Mark $59.95 |
|
|
BEAUTIFUL ORIENTAL GLASS POTTERY URN DISH $6.99 |
|
|
Beautiful ROSEVILLE BITTERSWEET Gray Jardeniere 863-4" Pottery $119.00 |
|
|
Beautiful ROSEVILLE IRIS Brown Bowl 359-5" Pottery $119.00 |
|
|
Beautiful ROSEVILLE PINECONE Green Jardeniere 632-3" Pottery $119.00 |
|
|
Beautiful Large Vintage Weller Pottery Malvern Console Bowl & Flower Frog $195.00 |
|
|
BEAUTIFUL LOMA POTTERY PEARL FINISH STEIN $6.99 |
|
|
Beautiful Hand Turned Pottery Vase $12.99 |
|
|
Beautiful Vintage Light Green Pottery Pedestal $24.99 |
|
|
Beautiful Frankoma Ceramic Art Pottery Flame #223 Clover Shamrock Bowl or Dish $7.99 |
|
|
POOLE POTTERY BEAUTIFUL SPRAY VASE $15.79 |
|
|
Beautiful Large Blue Mountain Pottery Molded Leaf Bowl - Mint Condition! $11.00 |
|
|
Early Hull Pottery Vase Blue Beautiful! $9.99 |
|
|
BEAUTIFUL MCCOY POTTERY SCOTTICE DOG MINI PLANTER YELLOW $9.99 |
|
|
Beautiful Vintage Flowered WELLER Art Pottery Vase Floral CALIFORNIA POTTERY $19.99 |
|
|
Arts and Crafts Pottery Vase Handles Great Drip Glaze Effect Beautiful Vintage $44.99 |
|
|
BEAUTIFUL FRANKOMA POTTERY TEAPOT, COFFEE POT #5TL *MINT* $80.99 |
|
|
BEAUTIFUL POTTERY VASE 5" TALL*2 1/2" TOP DIAMETER*RICH $6.00 |
|
|
BEAUTIFUL WELLER CREAMWARE ARTS & CRAFTS MISSION ART POTTERY CAMEOCANDLE HOLDER $120.00 |
|
|
pair of Crescent pottery egg cups-beautiful floral decoration-undamaged $7.89 |
|
|
A BEAUTIFUL BLUE MOUNTAIN POTTERY ELEPHANT FIGURE - LOVELY PIECE!! $15.79 |
|
|
BEAUTIFUL REPRO VASE GREEK ORIENTAL COPY CORINTHIAN PERIOD POTTERY $75.00 |
|
|
BEAUTIFUL OLD VINTAGE ART POTTERY VASE POT, SIGNED, 9 1/4" T X 6 1/3" D, 6.3 LBS $99.99 |
|
|
BEAUTIFUL MALABAR POTTERY HEART WALL DESIGN ART LEAVES NATURAL FREE SHIP IN USA $15.99 |
|
|
Beautiful!! Desert Sands Pottery : Colorful Ash Tray $16.79 |
|
|
beautiful vintage palestine armenian pottery plaque iznik islamic wood frame $59.00 |
|
|
BEAUTIFUL CLEWS CHAMELEON WARE POTTERY VASE - handpainted - antique - vintage $31.60 |
|
|
Beautiful Contemporary Modern Handcrafted Studio Art Pottery Vase - Signed $9.99 |
|
|
Beautiful Vintage Cobalt Blue Pottery Exotic Bird Vase $22.99 |
|
|
Beautiful Hand Made BACOVA Signed Art Pottery Bowl $45.00 |
|
|
Beautiful Vintage Cobalt Blue Pottery Exotic Bird Vase $22.99 |
|
|
Beautiful Vintage Cobalt Blue Pottery Exotic Bird Vase $22.99 |
|
|
BEAUTIFUL POOLE POTTERY CAROLYN BARTLETT 1960's DELPHIS SMALL DISH $15.79 |
|
|
BEAUTIFUL POOLE POTTERY CAROL CUTLER 1960's DELPHIS SHALLOW DISH $15.79 |
|
|
Beautiful American Porcelain Art Pottery Chocolate Pot / Pitcher Hand Painted $175.00 |
|
|
SHEEPSCOTT RIVER POTTERY BEAUTIFUL LUNCHEON PLATES BIRCH TREE PATTERN $50.00 |
|
|
BEAUTIFUL POOLE POTTERY JANET LAIRD 1960's DELPHIS SHALLOW DISH #1 $21.32 |
|
|
BEAUTIFUL MAXCERA POTTERY~WHITE WITH GOLD TRIM~PERFECT CONDITION $0.99 |
|
|
VINTAGE ENKOPING SWEDISH POTTERY MONK FIGURINE - BEAUTIFUL & UNIQUE $24.95 |
|
|
BEAUTIFUL POOLE POTTERY JANET LAIRD 1960's DELPHIS SHALLOW DISH #2 $72.71 |
|
|
BEAUTIFUL RB BERNARDA PORTUGAL BASKET POTTERY PORCELAIN $19.99 |
|
|
ANTIQUE HULL 1958 POTTERY VASE SUPER RARE BEAUTIFUL COLORS SUPER UNIQUE HIGH $$ $16.50 |
|
|
BEAUTIFUL ART POTTERY BROWN WOVEN BASKET BY J.K.C 1985 $4.99 |
|
|
Beautiful Three Handle Art Pottery Vase. $6.31 |
|
|
Beautiful Piece of BRUSH Pottery - Ceramic Planter F562 -Pastel Yellow EXC Cond $9.99 |
|
|
Beautiful Piece of BRUSH Pottery - Ceramic Covered Dish - Custard Bowl USA EXC $9.99 |
|
|
Blue Mountain Pottery Beautiful Lilly Leaf Design Bowl- Mint Condition $7.00 |
|
|
Blue Mountain Pottery Beautiful Lilly Leaf Design small Bowl- Mint Condition $5.00 |
|
|
Haeger Royal Pottery Black Glossy Vase Big and Beautiful $19.99 |
|
|
BEAUTIFUL SHEEPSCOT RIVER POTTERY PLATE WITH WHITE ASH DESIGN EDGECOMB MAINE $19.99 |
|
|
Beautiful Rosenthal Netter Italian Pottery Lid and Ceramic Dish/Bowl $49.85 |
|
|
Beautiful vintage, hand made pottery dish $19.95 |
|
|
Rosanna Tea For Me Too, Gift-boxed Children's Tea Set, Service for 4 $49.95 Colorful and charming, this miniature tea set is the child's equivalent of Rosanna's larger Tea's Me collection. Included are a chartreuse-and-pink teapot, four cups and saucers, and a sugar bowl and cream pitcher. With the whimsical feel of Wonderland, each of the four teacups is mismatched in shape and color combinations--a ruffled foot here, a peaked handle there--while the saucers feature peta... |
|
|
Mikasa French Countryside 45-Piece Dinnerware Set, Service for 8 $199.90 Timeless elegant French country baroque shape in soft white everyday durable stoneware. Set includes 8 each dinner plate, salad plate, bowl, cup & saucer plus 5-pc. serveware set, platter, serving bowl, sugar with lid & creamer..... |
|
|
Emile Henry Couleurs Pie Dish $45.00 Made from mineral-rich Burgundy clay unsurpassed for its even heat distribution, this distinctive deep-dish pie plate from Emile Henry features scalloped edges reminiscent of a fluted piecrust. Thanks to a proprietary CERADON manufacturing process, the dish is highly resistant to chips and breakage, withstands temperatures from 0 F to 500 F and can go directly from freezer to oven. It retains heat... |
|
|
Lite Source LS-21506ORN Reiko 17-Inch Ceramic Table Lamp, Orange with White Fabric Shade $33.41 Finish:Orange, Shade:White, Light Bulb:(1)60w A19 Med F Incand Reiko Table Lamp Ceramic body. On/Off in-line switch. Can use equivalent CFL bulb.... |
|
|
Lite Source LS-21455D/BRZ Lanterna Table Lamp, Dark Bronze Metal Lantern with Glass Shade $86.00 Finish:Dark Bronze, Shade:Frosted Glass, Light Bulb:(1)60w A19 Med F Incand Lanterna Table Lamp. On/off in-line switch. Compact fluorescent can be substituted for incandescent light bulb.... |
