Oaxaca is distinguished in the Mexican Republic for the preserve of many preHispanic traditions. Celebrations, rites, dances, but mainly the art, makes our roots get reflected on this invaded contemporary culture. In this beautiful state six thousand mixed race and indigenous towns and sixteen ethnic groups exist, accommodating more than five hundred thousand craftsmen, supported in their artistic talent and imagination, respecting the traditional means and techniques.
The pottery has become for a long time one of the activities of greater importance, fulfilling a double aim: to make daily useful or simply decorative objects. In this second it is emphasized the world-wide famous and valued Black Mud.

Originary of the community San Bartolo Coyotepec, located 8 kilometers far from the city of Oaxaca, passing by the airport, the black mud is distinguished by its metalized black finished. The creation of this is attributed to Doña Rosa Real de Nieto, who accidentally discovered that ceramics could be polished with quartz stones, giving like result a shine and smooth texture. By this, Doña Rosa earned the recognition of mexican and foreign artists and collectors, making her factory the most important of Coyotepec. She dies in 1980, leaving to her children the mysterious secret of the manufacture, mystery they say, will continue passing from generation to generation without revealing it to any stranger to avoid that other communities apply it and with this create some class of competition.

The Doña Rosa Pottery Store stills open to the public for manufacture, exhibition and sale of black mud, from 8:30 a.m. until the 7 p.m., in the street of Benito Juárez 24in San Bartolo Coyotepec, at only twenty minutes of the city of Oaxaca taking the highway to Puerto Escondido. Nowdays Valente Nieto Real, son of the great potter and in charge of the business, tells that her mother was one lady of indigenous origin that was born in 1900 and which, thanks to her talent, won the simpathy of some presidents of the Nation. In the factory they continue molding the pieces on the traditional winch without wheel, method of pre-Hispanic inheritance that consists of two concave mud plates, one downwards supporting the other.

The making process lasts over 20 to 30 days, going from the molding to the decoration, and then to the slow drying in closed rooms. Earthenware vessels, vases and large pitchers carved with ruins of Monte Albán, virgin figures, saints and diverse sculptures are the main production, although the elaboration of special pieces to store mezcal: the typical drinki of the State of Oaxaca. There are also made ash trays, whistles and figures of very accessible price and, mainly, of very good quality and finished.

A great exhibit of the black mud is exposed in State Museum of Popular Art of Oaxaca, same that has taked the task of rescue the local art and dignify it in a noble place, beautiful and sober, with a minimalist museography to emphazise the great beauty and shine of this singular material, same that has an entire hall of permanent exhibition.
The cost of the entrance to the museum is of 20 pesos and if the visitor counts with a student or teacher credencial the access is for free. To know the State Museum of Popular Art of Oaxaca is to penetrate in a magical world of the most intimate creation of our identity. While walking around its beautiful halls we understand why Oaxaca is the spiritual reserve of México. Buying black mud, visiting the factorys and the Museum of Coyotepec, we contribute to the conservation of our culture. If you go to Oaxaca, don’t forget it!