To purchase, go to CLAY VASES, POTS & OLLAS at www.zocalofolkart.com.
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To purchase, go to CLAY VASES, POTS & OLLAS at www.zocalofolkart.com. |
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When one comes to the village of Capula for the finest, one goes to the house of Pedro Ruiz Martínez. There are many clay artists who paint the images with tiny points, punteado, but Pedro and his wife form each clay piece, paint the images on the clay before the final firing, and the details of their work is incomparable. One may find many less expensive pieces due to the forming of the clay being out-sourced, then the painted design applied after the final firing. There in lies a few of the reasons for a four to five month wait for a Ruiz masterpiece. With hesitation, we made our first order never before paying prices in this category. But the olla appearing on pages 148 and 149 of the Great Masters Book of Mexican Folk Artists sold within 15 minutes of unpacking in our San Miguel store. Our fears were for naught, but regrettably, I did not get a photo of this exquisite olla which I only held in my own hands for moments!
After the pieces have been shaped from clay, the maestro goes to work. Each design is hand painted with the symbolism of the region…humming birds, flowers, butterflies, and always the fish from El Lago, Lake Pátzcuaro.
Pedro carefully makes his own brushes using only the hairs from the tails of squirrels. Like so many of the artisans, these are considered the best, drawing the finest lines and designs.
Their small showroom at their home is full of beautiful wares (none for sale…only orders being completed) and walls filled with the many awards for his work and artistry. The exactness of the designs are so perfect and consistent, one is tempted to believe that these dots must be machine applied. The high-firing is precise using two huge, gas powered kilns. These pieces are meant for daily use as we watched several vajillas (full place-settings for 12) being completed for grateful and patient clients in Mexico City, California, and New Mexico. Owning a full vajilla de Pedro Ruiz is the epitome of living (and dining) with fine folk art. While proud and thrilled to represent Pedro Ruiz Martinez in our San Miguel store, Rick and I left wishing for our own vajilla…un dia, un dia! September 29, 2002 |
