eBay

Up for sale is this beautiful Manuel Olivas signed Mata Ortiz pottery vase / olla seed pot with fantastic hand-painted designs on the sides.

It has a bulbous body that tapers to a flat, round, and small open mouth. It sits nicely and is well-balanced and elegant, with its designs visible and attractive from all angles and sides. It is thickly potted and a sturdy piece that feels very well made.

It is in excellent condition with no cracks or chips.

Highly collected artist and this piece is just another fine and unique example of his work!

This shape and design is also quite rare!

Measures 5.3” inches tall and 5” inches wide (13.5 cm, 12.7 cm).

Would make a fantastic display piece, fine addition to a collection, or a great gift!

About the Artist

Manuel Olivas (1941-2007) the pots were painted using paintbrushes fashioned from the hair of children, firing takes place on the open ground with wood, or with a laid beehive of dried cow chips. The earliest pieces used a black only paint design. Later with the help of fellow potter and freind Juan Quezada, Olivas was able to create red designs.

Manuel (founder of the Mata Ortiz Grandes pottery movement) was considered as one of the top potters, recreating the art form of prehistoric Paquime Effigies and Ollas or coiled pots. His works pre-date Juan Quezada * and Olivas was the first pottery maker in Mata Ortiz. Juan Quezada was the first to sell to the American market.

“Many pottery dealers believe that Manuel Olivas was the father of the pottery revival near Casa Grandes. "The Story of Casas Grandes Pottery" by Rick Cahill and "The" Journal of the Southwest, "by Jim Hills, 2012. I Many Faces of Mata Ortiz" by Susan Lowell, on page 120, Manuel and Blanca are listed as one of the primary families of Master Potters. Beautiful Hand Crafted Mexican Art Pottery by Artist Manuel L. Olivas. Created by hand in the 700 year old time honored tradition of Casas Grande & Mata Ortiz potters. "In 1952, in Casas Grandes, Manuel Olivas began to produce low temperature ceramics decorated with the designs from the pieces found at the archaeological sites. His grandmother taught him how to find the clay deposits, how to prepare the clay and fire his pieces the way his family did to produce clay articles.”