Vintage Master Potter Teódulo Potosme Nicaraguan Carved Sgraffito Seed Pot

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An exceptional work of fine Central American folk art, this low-slung ovoid seed pot was handcrafted by celebrated Nicaraguan Master … Read more An exceptional work of fine Central American folk art, this low-slung ovoid seed pot was handcrafted by celebrated Nicaraguan Master Potter Teódulo Potosme in San Juan de Oriente. Preserving pre-Columbian ceramic aesthetics using ancient regional methodologies, Potosme formed this piece completely by hand without a wheel.

The vessel features a striking split-design narrative. One hemisphere showcases highly intricate, deep-carved sea turtles navigating textured green depths via the sgraffito technique, where precise tools slice back through liquid mineral slips. The alternating side beautifully transitions into a vibrant, modern patchwork of geometric ochre, rust-red, sky blue, and forest green panels. The entire exterior is meticulously burnished with smooth river stones before undergoing a traditional, hot straw-kiln firing to achieve its hallmark satin-gloss sheen. The underside bears the artist’s authentic incised signature, "Teódulo Potosme Nicaragua." A commanding, museum-quality statement piece for Organic Modernist, Coastal, or New Traditional interior spaces


An exceptional piece of contemporary Central American folk art, this low-profile, squat seed pot vase originates from the world-famous ceramic hub of San Juan de Oriente, Nicaragua. Hand-thrown from local mountain clay, the vessel features a brilliant split-design narrative. One hemisphere is adorned with heavily carved, stylized sea turtles swimming through textured green depths, executed using the traditional sgraffito technique where fine tools incise patterns back through layers of colored slips. The opposite hemisphere transitions into a magnificent, geometric patchwork layout of vibrant polychrome mineral slips—including deep ochre, rust-red, sky blue, and forest green.

The entire piece is painstakingly burnished using smooth river stones prior to firing, yielding a lustrous, glassy sheen that accentuates the multi-dimensional, carved lines. Distributed originally via the artisan collective Nica-Art, this striking vessel beautifully fuses prehistoric indigenous traditions with high-contrast modern aesthetics. A perfect statement piece for Coastal, Organic Modernist, or Global Eclectic interior designs.

The pottery of San Juan de Oriente carries a lineage stretching back to pre-Columbian Chorotega indigenous traditions. Artisans use foot-powered kick wheels to form the clay, paint the vessels with natural mineral oxides mixed from earth slips, and meticulously rub the surfaces with river rocks to compress the pores and create a glass-like glaze without using chemical compounds. The deep, highly textured sgraffito relief carving seen on this vessel represents the technical hallmark of the region, celebrating Central America's rich maritime biodiversity and wildlife motifs.

Based out of the famous pottery enclave of San Juan de Oriente, Teódulo Potosme is recognized as one of Nicaragua’s premier traditional ceramicists. Renowned for his strict adherence to ancestral techniques, Potosme shuns commercial kilns and modern paint, relying instead on raw local mountain clay, natural earth pigments, and open-air straw-firing structures. His exceptional skill allows him to bridge the gap between ancient pre-Columbian motifs and high-contrast contemporary design. Potosme’s individual works are highly sought after by global estate decorators and collectors of fine indigenous American pottery

• Creator / Artisan: Teódulo Potosme (Hand-signed)
• Period: 2000 – 2009
• Place of Origin: San Juan de Oriente, Nicaragua
• Materials: Hand-Burnished Mountain Clay & Natural Mineral Oxides
• Condition: Excellent vintage condition. Free of chips, cracks, fleabites, or repairs. The interior is clean and unglazed. The exterior retains its brilliant slip coloration and razor-sharp sgraffito boundaries with virtually no display wear. Very minor baseline kiln marks on the foot consistent with primitive firing techniques.
• Dimensions: 4.0” H × 8.0” W × 8.0” D
• Weight: 2 lbs 0 oz See less