Mexican Ceramics
Since the beginning of the history of Mexican ceramics, ceramics took a prevailing place in the lives of Mexican people. Since the appearance of the Olmec culture, which is considered to be the "mother of the Mesoamerican cultures," anthropomorphic figures, vessels and various types of utensils found in the archaeological ruins of the ancient Olmec cities of Tajin, San Lorenzo, La Venta and Tres Zapotes, all suggest the techniques they used in their ceramics: use of clay, knowledge of some primitive firing techniques and their ways of painting designs and coloring.
The Olmecs (1500 B.C. - 800 A.D.) left their knowledge to the future cultures.
The Teotihuacans transcended their era (1500 B.C. - 800 A.D) made most of their vessels with clay and decorated them with a variety of techniques: mainly stucco, smoothing and painting.
The Aztecs (1325 A.D. - 1521 A.D.) pottery varied widely. They made all types of earthenware, pots, cups, jugs and plates, mostly with orange and red clay.
The Mixtecs stood out for their polychrome lacquer ceramics. After polishing each piece, they would cover it with white stucco and then paint over it.
Over to the north of Mexico the Casas Grandes (100 A.D. - 1360 A.D.) produced beautiful polychrome ceramic. They made them basically with geometric motives and influences from the Mimbres Culture.
Mexican Ceramics
Every region had its own unique characteristics of Mexican ceramics. Yet, in all these cultures, the potter himself was given very much importance. The Aztecs summed it up this way:
"A good potter:
He puts great care into his work,
He teaches the clay to lie,
He speaks with his own heart,
He brings life to things,
He creates them,
He knows everything as if he were a Toltee
He makes his hands skillful."
The same ancient techniques used to make Mexican ceramics are still being used today in some parts of Mexico. These groups were able to preserve the artistic techniques such as coil building, natural pigments and open firing.
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