Purepecha Indians

The Purepecha were never conquered by the very aggressive Aztec Nation and consequently were not part of the assimilated Aztec Nation that Cortez conquered in behalf of the Spanish Crown. However another Spanish Conquistador, Beltran de Guzmun, known for his cruelty, entered western Mexico after Cortez and brutally killed the Purepechan leader, Chief Tangaxuan. Even with Chief Tangaxuan death, Guzmun never gained control of the territory occupied by the Purepecha Nation and due to his cruelty, Guzman was recalled to Spain and was imprisoned for the rest of his life. In turn, Vasco de Quiroga was sent to Western Mexico, and with influence from the church, Quiroga approached the Purepecha Nation with utopian ideas of a socialist society, living in peace, and establishing tribe communities…..each with their own specialty and purpose. Today, the Purepecha Nation exist primarily in the State of Michoacán in Western Mexico and each of their communities is known for a specific pottery technique and artisan design.

Cocuchos

Cocuchos Pottery comes from the remote Purepecha Indian village of Cocucho in the Mexican state of Michoacan. This distinctive art form is unique to this village.
The pottery is hand formed, charcoal fired, and splashed with a cornmeal solution to create the primitive yet refined surfaces for which they are known. The size, shape and surface of each piece is totally controlled by the hand and eye of the artist without the use of a wheel, mold or other mechanical device.

Talavera Pottery

Under the leadership of Hernandez Cortes, the Spaniards conquered Mexico in the early 15th century, and it wasn’t long before monks brought over skilled craftsmen from Spain to teach the indigenous peoples this beautiful craft. Our talavera pottery originates from Dolores Hidalgo, Mexico. Each piece is a virtual work of art and individual artists styles are distinctive. The pieces that Ventana al Mundo brings to you are food and dishwasher safe.

Tonala Pottery

Due to the clay soil in the area surrounding the small town of Tonala, pottery has been a traditional occupation for centuries. When the Spanish Conquistadors arrived on the scene in 1530 they named Tonala the “Factory of Paganism” as it was then a center of production for clay idols worshipped in surrounding villages. Today the Tonala artisans offer one of a kind items influenced by indigenous, Spanish and modern techniques that have fused together to make ten different styles of finishes, several styles can be viewed and purchased at Ventana al Mundo.

The Pottery of San Juan de Oriente, Nicaragua

Now becoming well known throughout the world, the potters of San Juan de Oriente are creating unique hand thrown pottery decorated with natural mineral oxides, and formed in such a manner to form both 2 and 3 dimensional designs usually depicting natural environmental surroundings. Each piece is hand signed, reflecting the pride the artist has in making this one of a kind decorative art.

The Cooperative of Ducuale Grande, Nicaragua

The women that make up this cooperative have been working together for many years. They work jointly on the pieces, often with each woman taking a different phase in the process. They apply a slip (clay in liquid form) and then re-fire or smoke the pieces to produce a final two-toned look.

Chulucanas Pottery of Peru

This pottery comes from the northern Peruvian village of Chulucanas, Peru. The potters use a similar technique to the one used by their ancestors, the Vicus, several centuries ago. This piece is hand-built, decorated with mineral oxides and fired and smoked with organic material. This final smoking gives the vase the rich color. This pottery is not recommended to hold water.

Ayacucho Pottery of Peru

This pottery has origins in the Andean town of Ayacucho, Peru. The technique used by artisans now is taken directly from the "Wari" culture, dating 1500 B.C. The clay is extracted, washed and sun dried until pliable. Complex forms are then shaped. When almost dry, more details are added. Next, background colors are painted using natural pigments. The ceramics are then placed into a brick oven and fired 5 hours at 800 degrees C. When cool, the figures are painted in detail. Themes are of a religious nature, depict local customs, mythology or just life in general.