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Oaxaca Pottery

In 1952 Dona Rosa found a particular unique type of clay. This was the beginning of the legendary black pottery of Oaxaca, pronounced "wah-ha-ka". Following the tradition of her ancestors, she shaped, formed and molded her works by hand. She fired her pottery in a brick lined pit in the ground. By firing, then polishing the Oaxacan clay with quartz stone, Dona Rosa was able to produce pottery with a distinctive and unique silver black patina.

Word spread about the amazing pottery that Dona Rosa produced. Soon her pottery became world renowned. The intricate carving and the symbolism of Oaxacan culture rang true in her art work. Her work can be found in the Smithsonian Institute and in the collections of such prestigious personalities of Salvador Dali and the Rockerfeller family. Her establishment has been visited by President Jimmy Carter, and President Fox of Mexico, who described the family as a national treasure.

Oaxaca is located in the rugged mountains of Southern Mexico. It is extremely difficult to get this pottery out because of it's remote location and extreme elevation, rock slides, torrential rain falls and bandits, Dona Rosa's descendants still produce this pottery using her techniques. The production is a huge undertaking. Countless hours are spent by the artists who produce each spectacular piece. There are approximately eight families left in the world that still produce this pottery.