We are often asked if we carry black pottery from Oaxaca. We had been reluctant to invest in it because of its fragile nature. How much of it would actually survive the truck ride? We decided to give it a try in February when we visited Dona Rosa Alfareria, San Bartolo Coyotepec in the state of Oaxaca, Mexico.
Visit the Chiripa website to see a couple examples of the work or stop in the shop for a wide selection of styles.
For some background information I'll reprint from the business flyer:
"Dona Rosa Real de Nieto ( 1900-1980) stood out as a personality in Coyotepec for many years. Recognized with medals and diplomas, her works were appreciated by collectors and her fame surpassed the borders of Mexico. She gave black pottery a shine when she accidentally discovered that it can be polished. This is what today we call black pottery. In her last years she continued transforming clay into beautiful pieces with the strength and abilities of her best years. Her son and grandchildren now, with a master ability, continue the family tradition.
"The Potters of Coyotepec continue to use their traditional method of turning post without a wheel. This consits of two concave clay plates, one upside down supporting the other. This method is of prehispanic inheritance. The pieces are molded on this device. The process takes 20 to 30 days, and goes from molding to decoration, to slow drying in closed rooms, polishing with a quartz stone and finally to baking where the pieces acquire their black color depending on the baking time."
In addition to beautiful pottery, the village of San Bartolo Coyotepect hosts a very good museum that features many of the artisan crafts of Oaxaca. I also appreciated the detail of the pavement on the streets!
By the way, not one piece of pottery was broken in shipment. We attribute that to the fine job of packing done at Dona Rosa Alfareria.
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