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Description
Oaxacan pottery holds an important position the State's handicraft field. Glazed tiles, featuring brown and white backgrounds with floral designs are easily found in Oaxaca City and across the Central Valley's towns. Production includes: plates cups, fruit bowls, jugs, pitchers, pots, vases, tea sets and toys.
The pottery found in Atzompa, a town near Oaxaca City, is very famous for its production of glazed tiles, which is characterised by its designs, based on tablet and fretwork techniques. The most common objects that can be found are: pots, flower pots, jars, vases, casserole dishes, dishes, toys and an endless number of decorative articles.
Manufacturing techniques applied to this pottery are completely primitive and based on patterns, upon which the piece is worked, according to the shape and dimensions required. Some of these pots are huge, over five and a half feet. tall, which makes it impossible to shape them on a potter’s wheel.
Pottery from Atzompa is one of a kind, due to its manufacturing and peculiar greenish glaze, which is easy to tell apart from the pottery found in the rest of the State and country.
The small pottery industry located in Atzompa is extremely unusual, since potters’ shops in each different neighbourhood are dedicated to manufacturing different types of pieces, destined to be exhibited and sold at "La Casa del Artesano" (House of the Craftsman), located in the centre of this small town.
Despite the common uses these pieces are given, they all have the distinctive aesthetic touch of the natives that personalises each and every one of the pieces, displaying the great creative fantasy these natives possess.
Production of Atzompa's most typical, green-glazed pieces, is simpler than that of other types of pottery, which is painted. Clay is cooked only once and then bathed in green Fuller's Earth, which is sold in Oaxaca City, thus creating glazed, green pottery. The thickest part, known as the "coco", of pieces such as jars, pots, jugs, etc. is made first, then the artist continues on with the neck and handle. If these objects are simple, they are completed in one step.
More elaborate items are decorated through the use of separate pieces, consisting in over-laid designs, although all is done in the same green tones.
Once the pieces have been put out to dry for two or three days, exposed to direct sunlight, they acquire certain shades of grey, meaning they are ready to be smoothed both inside and out. Once the rough spots have been removed, the pieces are placed in a kiln for 24 hours. After that, they are rinsed with water, where some Fuller's Earth and copper sulphate have been dissolved, thus giving the piece its traditional glazed aspect.
Location
• Santa María Atzompa: Is located 5 miles (8 kilometres) West of the City of Oaxaca via a paved road. Approximate travel time: [0:15]
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