Mata Ortiz pottery shard, stone and sterling silver pendant

Size: The pendant measures 2" by 2".

This beautiful one-of-a-kind piece of jewelry combines the artistry of Mata Ortiz potters with that of silver smith Agustin Torres Beltran. The story that led to this collaboration began in the mid 1900s in Mata Ortiz, a small village in Chihuahua, Mexico, with a young artist, Juan Quezada. As a boy, Quezada found and was entranced by ancient Paquimé Indian pot. He taught himself to refine the local clay, develop mineral pigments and to create, design and paint pottery. Over the years, he has taught many others in the village and now Mata Ortiz pots have become highly desirable works of art. Sadly, up to 30% of the ornately decorated pots are damaged in the firing process. This is where Beltran comes in.

Agustin Torres Beltran is a Nahuatl Indian living in Taxco, the silver making capital of Mexico. He is sent damaged pots from the Mata Ortiz potters. He designs and hand forms .950 silver settings for the pottery shards, often incorporating polished stones or ancient Paquimé designs to best show off the painted pottery piece. This marriage of hand crafted silver and hand painted pottery results in gorgeous pieces of art such as this.

All pieces of Mata Ortiz jewelry will come with a certificate of authenticity and a gift box. Gift wrapping is available on request. We offer free priority insured mail to all United States locations. International shipping costs will vary based on location.

Item ID: 4012