Oaxacan Potter

This black potter’s hands have been caked in clay since she was a little girl. Located in San Bartolo Coyotepec in Oaxaca, Mexico, famous for its black pottery artisans, she learned her craft from her mother. When asked how old she was she said, “cien menos quattro.” I sat in awe as she dug out a handful of wet clay, placing it on her wheel consisting of two small plates with the concave and convex surfaces contacting each other allowing her to spin the plate holding the clay on top of the one beneath it. In a matter of minutes, she produced a beautifully formed pot ready for the kiln.