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Mata Ortiz/Casas Grandes Pottery

The residents of the little village of Mata Ortiz produce thin-walled, finely decorated pottery. The pottery tradition at Mata Ortiz is only a recent development, initiated in the 1970s by one man (the great Juan Quezada) who was inspired by designs he found on Casas Grandes pottery shards. The better Mata Ortiz pottery rivals the finest Pueblo pottery, and some truly exceptional pieces are created there.

Mata Ortiz is located in the northern part of the Mexican state of Chihuahua, near the prehistoric ruins of Paquime, once inhabited by people of the Casas Grandes culture.



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Bugarini, Miguel 
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Casas Grandes (Mata Ortiz) olla by Miguel Bugarini
Casas Grandes (Mata Ortiz) olla by Miguel Bugarini
 

The body of this olla is filled with intricate geometric designs.  Stylized feather designs circle the shoulder.  An exquisite example of Miguel's work.
 
Buff over red.
 
Height: 6"
Diameter: 6 1/2"


#8229

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Flores, Ismael 
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Casas Grandes (Mata Ortiz) olla by Ismael Flores
Casas Grandes (Mata Ortiz) olla by Ismael Flores
 

Huge fluted-neck olla.
 
Strikingly detailed and well-balanced geometric designs.
 
Black and white over red background.
 
Height: 13"
Diameter: 12"


#8222

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Loya, Jose and Pena, Ana 
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Casas Grandes (Mata Ortiz) olla by Jose Loya and Ana Pena
Casas Grandes (Mata Ortiz) olla by Jose Loya and Ana Pena
 

Very large thinwalled polychrome olla with intricate abstract geometric designs.
 
Red and black over tan/buff.
 
Height: 10 3/4"
Diameter: 9 1/2"


#8224

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Ortega, Gustavo 
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Click here for another photo of Gustavo's Mata Ortiz jar
Click here for another photo of Gustavo's Mata Ortiz jar
 

Pretty handformed and pit-fired polychrome olla.
 
Black and red over tan.
 
Height: 4 3/4"
Diameter: 4 3/4"


#3427

Quezada, Betty 
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Casas Grandes (Mata Ortiz) olla by Betty Quezada
Casas Grandes (Mata Ortiz) olla by Betty Quezada
 

Very large olla by Betty Quintana de Quezada, daughter-in-law of the incomparable Juan Quezada (her husband is Juan's eldest son, Noe).
 
Tan over black in distinctive Quezada family designs.  Juan provided Betty with the clay surface slips for this piece.
 
Height: 10 7/8"
Diameter: 9"


#8223

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