BLACK POTTERY VASE
BLACK MUD (BARRO NEGRO OAXACA, MEXICO)
These pieces come from the Oaxacan population of San Bartolo Coyotepec, known as the cradle of black mud. Since pre-colonial times the clay has been used by the Zapotec and Mixtec culture, but it was only until the 50s that the black clay was promoted thanks to a woman named Rosa Real de Nieto.
The mud is extracted from a place near the town, and contrary to what people might think, it is not black. The characteristic color is obtained through the baking process. The piece is placed in a two-mouth oven (a wood-fired oven that is underground) that at a certain moment is closed with the objective of reducing oxygen and generating the "reduction of atmospheres" that generates a physical reaction contrary to oxidation. This is a burning process used since pre-Hispanic times.
The process of creating a piece begins with the collection of the clay, which is sifted and "put to rest" for later kneading and modeling, the piece is left to dry in the sun for four days. In case the piece requires to have openwork, this is done on the fourth day so that it is not so fresh or so dry that it makes the work difficult.
Then it is scraped to close the pores of the mud and it is left to dry again to make it shine, which is done by polishing the piece by hand with quartz stones; leave other days in the shade and then in the sun to dry completely and give a second polish, leaving another four days before putting it in the oven for baking. Cooked the pieces, washed, dried and ready to be sold.
Please note that these items are entirely handmade and therefore, no two articles are exactly the same. Also, colors could vary from what is shown in the pictures, due to lighting conditions and screen resolution, among others.
