Michoacán Pottery from Mexico

Mexican Folk Art of the Purépecha People

Feb 5, 2010
Katharine Garstka

Tzintzuntzan Fish Platter - Katharine Garstka

Much of the pottery produced in Michoacán is the work of the Purépecha people. They make dishes, pots and jugs, toys, whistles, and whimsical figurines.

The Purépecha people originally occupied a large area in western Mexico covering a good portion of what is now Michoacán, and thus their handicrafts and folk art pieces can be found throughout the region. Although the Purépecha are widespread in Michoacán, other indigenous groups such as the Mazahuas, Otomies, and the Náhuatl also enrich the area with their culture and traditional arts and crafts.

Focusing for the moment on Purépecha pottery, it should also be noted that they have been master metal workers for many generations, making elaborate weapons, jewelry and cookware of bronze, copper, silver, and gold. They also work in textiles, and create musical instruments, carved wooden items, prized lacquer ware, and other handcrafted items.

Pottery of the Purépecha

The Purépecha tend to specialize by village, with many villages producing unique pottery items. For example, those who live in or near Tzintzuntzan, the ancient Purépecha capital on the shores of Lake Pátzcuaro, make pottery serving dishes that often depict fish or the island of Janitizio, along with fish. The dishes are usually glazed a light yellow or tan, with figures outlined in brown or dark green. See the photo at the end of this article for an example.

One village, Ocumicho, is noted for its clay toys, whistles, and little pottery devil figurines, or diablitos. The devils are often part of elaborate constructions that include multiple figures, such as intemperate Last Suppers, restaurants full of people, and weddings. To learn more about the Ocumicho pottery, see the Mexican Folk Art Devils from Ocumicho.

Another type of pottery, often glazed in red or green, comes from the area of Patambán. An example of this pottery, a green dish in the form of a leaf, is shown at the end of this article. Like other Purépecha pottery, wood-fired kilns are used, so this ware is apt to be fragile. The glaze is also brittle and chips easily.

Decorated Cookware and Dishes

San Bartolomé Cocucho is known for giant ceramic pots called cocuchas. Originally designed to store water, they were often partially buried to help keep the liquid cool and fresh. The pots are made of volcanic clay and are finished with a corn stain and are burnished to a dark shine.

Another village known for pottery cookware and dishes is Capula, where they use fancy glazed designs in their craft.

In the village of Huancito, artisans make large comals, or tortilla cooking platters. They also make dishes designed for cooking large amounts of cooking, as well as stackable water jugs.

Pottery created with simple molds become works of art in San Jose de Gracia, where artisans use multiple layers of appliquéd glazes to embellish the original pieces. The town is specially noted for its glazed green glazed pineapples, which are unique to the area.

Michoacán Ceramics

Many handcrafted items can be found for sale in cities in towns all over Mexico, often in cooperatives and government-sponsored shops and fairs. However, finding these treasures in the villages where they are made can be a different, and very special, experience.