Emerging from an ongoing exploration of materiality and surface, the new finish reveals a warmer, more natural tonal quality—highlighting the depth, texture and tactile honesty of clay. This new clay reflects not only a different aesthetic but also a distinct material process and regional identity.
This clay development marks the beginning of a collaboration between davidpompa and 1050°, a cooperative of master artisans from Mexico dedicated to preserving ceramic traditions and ancestral knowledge rooted in the territories of Oaxaca, Puebla and Chiapas.
EARTH CLAY
Its composition draws from three distinct clays sourced from different locations.
OAXACA
Set within the arid landscapes of Puebla, Los Reyes Metzontla is shaped by its environment.
CONTEXT
Over generations, artisans have refined techniques in dialogue with the land.
ANFORA
Originally conceived for daily rituals—carrying water, preserving food, enduring fire.
Collaboration
While emerging from different contexts, both practices share a common sensibility: a deep respect for craftsmanship, material integrity and the time embedded within handmade processes. The collaboration is grounded in a mutual appreciation for Mexican artisanal traditions and the cultural knowledge carried through generations of craftsmen.
Culture and Significance
Based on traditional clay processes and regional material techniques.
Reyes Metzontla is a pottery community located in the Mixteca region of Puebla, Mexico. The clay developed there is known for its distinctive character and refined finish.
Crafting Process
The natural tone reflects the raw color of the clay harvested from the arid hills surrounding Metzontla. Each piece is hand-burnished before firing and finished with beeswax, giving the surface a subtle sheen and silky texture. Metzontla remains one of the few pottery communities in the world to preserve this remarkable technique, where material knowledge and craftsmanship continue to be passed down through generations.
Traditional Uses
Originally conceived for daily rituals—carrying water, preserving food, enduring fire—barro natural now inhabits spaces beyond necessity. In Los Reyes Metzontla, where nearly 70% of the community is dedicated to pottery, this material continues to shape both daily life and collective identity, bridging function with a different perspective.
