Collection: Black Clay Art

The black clay is the key to obtain these fabulous creations. This material is found deep in the soil of Oaxaca in southern Mexico.  The process to clean the black clay requires patience; all the roots and any type of impurity must be removed until the clay is totally pure, this process could take up to a month. Once the pieces are created they are dried on the sun for several days; in case a metallic or shiny black finished are desired they are polished with a wet flat quartz stone. This type of clay acquires its characteristic black color during its burning and smoking stage, which is carried out in a wood oven or  the traditional way; in an oven (pit) into the ground where the pieces are baked at temperatures between 1300 and 1450 °F. Once the piece is baked, the pit is sealed and air entry is prevented, which causes black fumes to adhere to the clay's surface. Finally, the pieces are allowed to cool down and polished with quartz, graphite or wax in order to give different kind of finishes. Some creations even have several finishes following the artisan's imagination; each work can take up to twenty days to be created.