Mexican Ceramic Olla or Vessel

Black birds on a marbled ground, fired in a village that never stopped experimenting.

Potters of Mata Ortiz, Chihuahua, Mexico, made this olla in the 20th century. Mata Ortiz pottery is commonly formed by hand without a wheel and draws on the ancient designs of the nearby Casas Grandes culture. The round body narrows to a flared, marbled neck. Black and rust decoration, with large bird-like and animal shapes, sits against a swirled cream and brown background. The surface is smooth and finely burnished, with delicate hand-drawn lines.

About eight inches tall and seven across. Designed for a shelf and unlikely to stay on one.