Macario Ortiz

Mata Ortiz

Macario Ortiz Estrada was the lead singer of the Los Hermanos Ortiz Band, a musical group famous in the Mata Ortiz area years ago. He first learned to pot around 1982 by watching Felix Ortiz working in his studio. By 1984 he and his brother Nicolas were collaborating regularly. It was Macario who first realized that graphite would revolutionize the making of blackware as it was easier to fire and more tolerant of coarse polishing. However, blackware made with graphite is more susceptible to fingerprints and more susceptible to damage than blackware made the traditional oxygen-reduction way.


Rabbit and geometric design on a square black on black jar
Square black on black jar decorated with a rabbit and geometric design
7.5 in H by 6.75 in Dia
Measurement includes stand

Mata Ortiz/Casas Grandes Potters