Posted 6 months ago
valentino97
(720 items)
These little mini pots are popular Museum gift store items because they are inexpensive tourist purchases and fit tucked inside a curiosity display. My darling 2"x1" pot is signed Rosi Rodriguez. Found at a yard sale. Please read CanyonRoad's excellent research about exactly what Mata Ortiz means and the probability this is from a Mexico shop anytime from 1980's to present. I saw many designs for sale at the Casa Grande museum gift shop in Arizona. Thanks for your comments!
8/26/2020
And I hope CanyonRoad will chime in with his/her expertise!
Thank you to dav2no1, dlpetersen, Fort, watchsearcher and Jenni for your fast loves.
There's a lot of misinformation on the internet about Mata Ortiz pottery, so don't believe everything you read online. For one thing, this is not "Casas Grande" or "Casa Grande." Mata Ortiz is the town in Mexico where the pottery is made. "Casa Grande" is a town in Arizona, totally unrelated to Mata Ortiz, and there is no place, tribe, or culture called "Casa Grandes."
There was, however, a culture called "Casas Grandes," (with an "s" on both words), in Mexico, which existed from 1250-1450 A.D. and then vanished. The ruins of Paquime, the center of Casas Grandes culture, was excavated and studied in the mid-1900s. It is located near the village of Mata Ortiz.
A pottery center developed at Mata Ortiz in the late 1970s/1980s. Some of the early potters copied the designs of the prehistoric pottery left by the Casas Grandes people. None of the potters, however, are Native American, they identify only as "Mexican." The pottery is officially recognized as "contemporary Mexican Art Pottery," by the Mexican government. There are no known descendants of the ancient Casas Grandes people.
Part of the confusion resulted from the fact that little was known about Mata Ortiz pottery when it appeared on the market in the 1980s. It was sometimes called "Casas Grandes Revival" at first, despite the fact that it is not made by anyone related to the Casas Grandes people, although some of the design patterns are similar to the prehistoric pottery.
Two of the best references on the pottery are the book "The Many Faces of Mata Ortiz," and the Fall 1994 issue of "Kiva: The Journal of Southwestern Anthropology and History" published by the Arizona Archaeoloical and Historical Society.
Nice little Pot my #1 Mary, I pick up those kind, when ever I find them at a good price, good Cabinet Pieces! Thanks for showing! :^D
Thanks for the write-up CanyonRoad, good learn that! :^D
Take Care, and always Wear a Mask, when you go out in Public! :^)
CanyonRoad - THANK YOU so much for your expertise. I bought this for my sister who has the book you suggested, but she wanted to see if collectors might know a bit more and I was sure you would. She will love to read your comments.Will also look up Kiva Fall 94 and forward to her.
I appreciate your expertise. Thanks for sharing it.
I have a pretty research book called "The Desert Southwest" by Allan and Carol Hayes, but it is a general source and mainly talks about America's Southwest, combining architecture, painting, history - a very good general resource.
Thank you Bill - these little treasures fit nicely in the cabinet don't they? And yes, not too much $ and so many beautiful patterns. My sister will love this.
Thanks friends for your loves - BB2, Thomas, Aura, Kevin, Vynil, Malkey :-)
O I so love this! The shape, the size and The craft. So so wonderful Mary!
Isn't this sweet? Yes, altho tiny it is a pretty nice item.
Thanks friends for your loves - Kyra, kwqd, Phil and gargoyle!