Ancient pottery techniques have emerged as a result of cultural syncretism, ongoing imitation practices, and the latent revival of ancestral methods. Together with the rich heritage of legends, rulers, and stories, they form the vast cultural and artistic repertoire of Oaxaca, an enigmatic state. Surely, we’ve all wondered at some point: where do those vibrant colors and textures come from? What practices, repetitions, and faces lie behind the clay?.

In this article, we’ll explore the traditional green clay pottery of Santa María Atzompa. A craft honed over many years, it stands out for its distinctive shine, intricate designs, and artistic bands.

Images Accompanying Mexican History

At the center of the table rests a green-glazed clay pitcher, a piece that exudes, along with the steam of hot chocolate, the very essence of Oaxaca’s folk art workshops. Its surface gleams with a deep, almost emerald luster, the result of a delicate glaze that evokes the memory of fields covering Zapotec lands—a hallmark of the Mexican claywork of Santa María Atzompa. In its details, one can see the hands of the artisan who shaped its form, bringing to life this vessel that now holds the sweet, spiced aroma of hot chocolate, ready to be served. The pitcher, rustic yet elegant, is a living testament to a tradition blending earth, fire, and art, crafted with the same reverence as a grandmother’s chocolate recipe.

The tradition of green-glazed pottery from Atzompa is not just a display of artisanal skill but also a reflection of the history of a people who have preserved their techniques for centuries. Its beauty is not only in its appearance but also in the story carried by each piece—a story of generations of potters who have upheld a unique cultural legacy.

The green-glazed pottery tradition of Atzompa dates back to the pre-Hispanic era, specifically between the 7th and 9th centuries, when the town served as a satellite of the great Zapotec city of Monte Albán. The process of creating green-glazed clay pieces begins with the careful collection of clay from the lands surrounding the village. Once extracted, the clay is kneaded to remove impurities and achieve a uniform texture for easy handling. Artisans shape the pieces using ancestral techniques, molding jars, pitchers, plates, and other utensils with their hands or with wooden and stone molds.

The skill and expertise of the potters are evident in every detail, as each piece must strike a perfect balance between functionality and aesthetics. Once shaped, the pieces are left to dry under the warm sun, which hardens the clay before it enters a traditional kiln.

The characteristic green color is achieved through the use of greda, a powdered substance that artisans liquefy with water. Each piece is coated by hand with this glaze. After the glaze application, the pieces return to the kiln for a second firing, where intense heat fixes the glaze and gives the pottery its signature brilliance, as if each piece held a fragment of nature itself within its surface. This meticulous process, which can take several days, highlights the patience and dedication of the artisans, who keep alive an ancient knowledge passed down with love and pride.

A Technique from Many Regions

For those wishing to bring a piece of this rich tradition into their homes, De Corazón México, located at Plaza San Jacinto 20 in San Ángel, offers a selection of green-glazed pottery from Santa María Atzompa. Each piece, with its rustic elegance, is an essential element in Mexican kitchens that honors the historical memory of the region.