This 17th Mask is dedicated to Mata Ortiz pottery from the Mexican state of Chihuahua. This type of ceramic is a recreation of the Mogollon pottery found in and around the archeological site of Casas Grandes (Paquimé) in Chihuahua. Named after the modern town of Mata Ortiz, which is near the archeological site, the style was propagated by Juan Quezada Celado. Quezada learned on his own to recreate this ancient pottery and then continued to evolve it. By the mid 1970s, Quezada was selling his pottery and teaching family and friends to make it and the pottery was able to penetrate the U.S. markets thanks to American investors and Mexican traders. By the 1990s, the pottery was being shown in museums and other cultural institutions and sold in fine galleries. The success of the pottery, which is sold for its aesthetic rather than its utilitarian value, has brought the town of Mata Ortiz out of poverty, with most of its population earning income from the industry, directly or indirectly.
ORIGIN: Ocotlan de Morelos, Oaxaca
SIZE: Medium - or to order
TIME: 4 days
FABRIC: Two layers of Manta Cotton
TO PURCHASE: This piece is available by inquiry. Please contact us or email info@studiorombo.com for availability, pricing details, and a personalized shipping quote.
