Jar

Michoacán is a world reference in craftsmanship, a land of ancestral techniques. It has the largest number of artisan processes in Mexico distributed in its seven regions, the result of a fusion of cultures that have evolved from the utilitarian to the decorative and artistic, manifested in the delicacy of copper, the elegance of the glaze, the soft touch of burnishing and the symbolism of its pottery to the negative. The craftsmanship of Zinapécuaro, is distinguished by sticking, more than any other pottery center, to the pre-Hispanic forms of Tarascan pottery in the texture of the clay and the shapes of its vessels. Burnished pottery is characterized by the magnificent luster and smooth texture achieved by polishing with a river stone, pyrite stone and in some cases a corn cob. This vase type vase, molded and decorated entirely by hand, stands out for its design in brown tone, the monochrome accompanies the surface details and a thin ribbon on the neck in gray. Burnishing is a pre-Columbian technique that consists, once a piece has been decorated, in polishing the surface with a pyrite stone to close the pores of the clay, giving it smoothness and softness to the surface, as well as a special shine. After polishing, it must be fired; burnished pottery is fired only once. The pottery in Zinapécuaro stands out for maintaining the pre-Hispanic pottery traditions, its burnished pottery is characterized by a smooth and uniform polishing, vibrant colors and the elaboration of the typical Michoacan gourds. Among the peasant population, pottery is a basic activity as important as agriculture that ensures daily food and family sustenance, while pottery is the only means of obtaining cash income without the risk of alienating the harvest.