Casas Grandes or Mata Ortiz Pottery
20th century pottery from the Casas Grandes, Chihuahua (Mexico) area has its roots in an archaeological period called the Buena Fe phase which began approximately 1060 A.D.. This was followed by the Paquime era in which Casas Grandes reached its peak as a thriving commercial center during the years 1210-1261 A.D.. During this time the pottery was traded from the Tropic of Cancer to the south, northwest as far as San Francisco, California and north and east inclusive of Colorado and Kansas. This pottery making tradition died out in early Spanish times.
Early in the 20th century, in the remote village of Mata Ortiz, Chihuahua, Mexico, a group of artisans began to renew this tradition. Technically and aesthetically, their pottery is on a plain with the work of the Indian potters of the American Southwest. In years past, the most commonly used name for this pottery was Casas Grandes, but now it is generally referred to as Mata Ortiz pottery.
One man, Juan Quezada, is credited with the modern revival of Casas Grandes ceramics. He has achieved world-wide recognition and has pottery displayed in the Los Angeles Museum of Art and the Smithsonian Institute as well as many other international museums. Among his people he is known as the “maestro” – the master craftsman and teacher.
Casas Grandes pottery is made using traditional methods, beginning with a journey to search for fine clay. The clay, usually dry when harvested, is ground, mixed with water and strained repeatedly until it is as fine as silt. It is then cured for two to three weeks and worked by wedging and kneading by hand until the proper consistency is reached.
Casas Grandes artisans do not use potters wheels in the forming process. The clay is pinched and shaped entirely by hand, resulting in a thin-walled vessel of beautiful symmetry. After forming, the pot must dry slightly before it can be slipped or painted. The fine-line painting is done with a brush, typically made from the artist’s or his family’s hair. All design work is done freehand and when completed, it is ready to be fired.
The firing process is unique. A circular pile of dung is prepared and set on fire. The pot is set close to the fire to warm to help prevent cracking when it is fired. When warmed, it is placed directly on the fire and leveled with stones. A wire cage is then placed over the pot and completely covered with dung which is also set on fire. About thirty minutes later the glowing, red-hot pot is carefully removed from the fire and carefully cooled indoors on a wood burning stove. Many pots do not survive this primitive and traditional process, but those that do speak eloquently of the history-laden Southwest.