Mid 20th Century Mata Ortiz Blackware Fish Vase by Carolina – Etched Geometric Motifs

Details

Description

Celebrate the artistry of Northern Mexico with this striking blackware fish vase by Carolina of Mata Ortiz. Hand-coiled and pit-fired … Read more Celebrate the artistry of Northern Mexico with this striking blackware fish vase by Carolina of Mata Ortiz. Hand-coiled and pit-fired in the traditional style, this sculptural vessel showcases the region’s renowned ceramic craftsmanship. The stylized fish form is adorned with intricate etched motifs—spirals, checkerboards, and triangles—that echo ancient Paquimé designs while embracing contemporary elegance.
Glossy and tactile, the vase features a wide spout at the mouth, a side handle, and a finely detailed tail, making it both a functional piece and a captivating display object. Carolina’s work is celebrated for its precision and imaginative forms, and this piece exemplifies her mastery of balance between tradition and innovation.
Perfect for collectors of Mexican folk art, black-on-black pottery, or sculptural ceramics, this piece brings cultural depth and visual intrigue to any shelf, console, or curio.
Excellent vintage condition. No chips or cracks. Signed on base.

The artist:
Carolina is one of the contemporary potters from Mata Ortiz, Chihuahua, Mexico, a village internationally recognized for reviving and innovating the ancient Casastia Grandes (Paquimé) ceramic tradition. Mata Ortiz pottery was pioneered in the 1970s by Juan Quezada Celado, who taught his family and neighbors to hand-coil, burnish, and pit-fire vessels without a wheel, using only local clays and natural pigments. Carolina specializes in blackware pottery, often sculpting animal forms such as fish, birds, or lizards. Her pieces are hand-coiled, polished to a glossy finish, and decorated with etched geometric motifs—spirals, checkerboards, and triangular designs—that echo ancient Paquimé iconography.
The fish vase exemplifies her sculptural approach, blending functional vessel design with imaginative figural artistry. Like many Mata Ortiz artists, Carolina learned through community transmission of Quezada’s methods. Each potter develops a personal style, and Carolina is known for her precise etching and playful animal symbolism.
Mata Ortiz pottery, including Carolina’s work, is exhibited in museums and galleries across the U.S. and Mexico, celebrated as one of the most important ceramic movements of the late 20th century.
Her work preserves the legacy of Paquimé while expressing modern creativity. Every piece is unique—hand-coiled, hand-burnished, and signed. Collectors of Mexican folk art and contemporary ceramics prize Mata Ortiz pottery for its museum-level craftsmanship and affordable accessibility compared to other traditions like Santa Clara Pueblo pottery. See less