Coyotepec Plate

Black pottery, el barro negro, from San Bartolo Coyotepec in Oaxaca is well known.  The process of making the black pottery pieces is lengthy and requires enormous skills. The primitive clay form is then dried in direct sunlight for four days after which if there is any cutting out needed, or the piece needs to be shinny or have shinny patches on it, the necessary work is completed. Should the piece need any cutting out this is done by steady hands and is very precise work. The shiny effect is achieved by polishing the piece by hand with quartz crystals. The piece is then scraped and left to dry in the sun for another four days. After this the piece is placed in a kiln (normally wood fired) for a day where the black pottery takes on its black colouration.