Vintage handmade folk art barro negro buy black pottery pitcher, signed Dona Rosa, San Bartolo Coyotepec, Oaxaca, Mexico

For sale: one vintage handmade folk art barro negro black pottery pitcher, signed Dona Rosa, San Bartolo Coyotepec, Oaxaca, Mexico. This wonderful pitcher would be a good size for a small bouquet of flowers.

Signed by Dona Rosa. The artist is noted for inventing a technique to make the local pottery type, barro negro, black and shiny after firing. In the 1950s, Doña Rosa discovered that she could change the color and shine of the pieces by making some changes to how the clay is handled. Just before the form is completely dry, it is polished with a quartz stone to compress the surface. It is then fired at a slightly lower temperature than traditional pieces. After firing, the piece emerges a shiny black instead of a dull gray, with a surface buy similar to graphite. Dona Rosa passed away in 1980, so we know this piece was made before then.

This vessel is 6" tall x 5 & 1/2" long x 4 & 1/2" wide. In good condition with some signs of wear and some roughness (possibly a chip) at the base. Please see photos for details.