Mata Ortiz pottery from Casas Grandes, Mexico

To form the base of the vessel, potters begin in a plaster form called a molde. A flat, round piece of clay, called a tortilla is pressed against the molde, forming the base of the pot. A coil of clay, known as a chorizo is added to the edge of the base and slowly pinched upward

Once the clay is pinched to its full height, indentations are removed by smoothing. The inside is smoothed with a spoon, wooden scraper, or something similar. The exterior is smoothed and the walls made even and thin using the toothed edge of a hacksaw blade, or segueta.

This example shows a coil of clay, or chorizo being added to the top of the pot, forming the neck of the vessel. Once the pot has dried sufficiently it is removed from the base mold. Once the pot has dried completely it may be sanded removing the remaining imperfections.

Most Mata Ortiz potters paint designs on their pots. This is the most time-consuming aspect. Pigments are made from local minerals and clays. Brushes are made from human hair (usually from the fine hair of children) tied to a stick. Most painting is done freehand and spontaneously, though major outlines are drawn first.

Usually pots are fired singly. The pot is placed upright on rocks and a quemador such as a metal bucket is inverted over the vessel so firing temperatures can be reached. A dome of cow chips is built over the bucket, doused with kerosene and allowed to burn up to 30 minutes. This is not an 'exact' science and many pots are ruined during this final process.

		To form the base of the vessel, potters begin in a plaster form called a molde. A flat, round piece of clay, called a tortilla is pressed against the molde, forming the base of the pot. A coil of clay, known as a chorizo is added to the edge of the base and slowly pinched upward

		Once the clay is pinched to its full height, indentations are removed by smoothing. The inside is smoothed with a spoon, wooden scraper, or something similar. The exterior is smoothed and the walls made even and thin using the toothed edge of a hacksaw blade, or segueta.

		This example shows a coil of clay, or chorizo being added to the top of the pot, forming the neck of the vessel. Once the pot has dried sufficiently it is removed from the base mold. Once the pot has dried completely it may be sanded removing the remaining imperfections.

		Most Mata Ortiz potters paint designs on their pots. This is the most time-consuming aspect. Pigments are made from local minerals and clays. Brushes are made from human hair (usually from the fine hair of children) tied to a stick. Most painting is done freehand and spontaneously, though major outlines are drawn first.

		Usually pots are fired singly. The pot is placed upright on rocks and a quemador such as a metal bucket is inverted over the vessel so firing temperatures can be reached. A dome of cow chips is built over the bucket, doused with kerosene and allowed to burn up to 30 minutes. This is not an 'exact' science and many pots are ruined during this final process.