A prehistoric ruin near Chihuahua, Mexico, Casas Grande was the source of an historic pottery tradition. It was the home at the time of roughly produced and crudely finished pottery. In the 1970's, Juan Quezada, a resident of the area, which became known as the Village of Mata Ortiz, began reproducing pottery in the traditional style of Casas Grandes. Pots created by Quezada and his associated villagers, many of whom are family members, are light years beyond their predecessors in excellence and finesse. They are highly respected and valued today. You will find them in collections and museums as demanding as the Smithsonian.

More than 300 other households in Mata Ortiz, now also create beautiful pottery. These artisans specialize in hand-built pots (wheels are not used). In the tradition of the Pueblos to which Mata Ortizans aspire; the medium used is local clay harvested by the potters and their families. Painted designs are also sourced from nature. Designs are frequently etched before being defined by paint. The pottery is fired in shallow pits, not in kilns.