Zoomorphic Vase by Maestra Valentina, Barro Rojo, H 26.5cm, Commissioned by Terra Mexico
A zoomorphic vase with bird heads and two handles made from Barro Rojo, polished with a red iron oxide slip and fired in open-air kilns to create the distinctive black fire licks.
This beautiful vase comes with a very special history, when the pandemic hit and many artisans in Mexico lost their income overnight, Terra decided to commission some pieces from all the Maestra's they work with.
A couple of years before, Maestra Valentina had given Terra founder Corinne Aivazian a vase on her birthday, it was completely different to anything she had made before or after. Usually the artisans in Maestra Valentina's village focus on tableware and other pieces they know they can sell at markets, but with everything closed, Maestra Valentina would finally have the time to work on something different.
She collected the clay from her land, began to develop some new ideas and forms and three months later this vessel was ready to fire under the Oaxacan sky. Valentina builds her kiln each time carefully stacking the pieces after they have spent the day backing under the sun. She uses everything from mud to dried agave leaves to fuel the flames that leave the beautiful and unique black fire licks on the pieces.
Height: 26.5cm
Width (at opening): 13cm
Care: clean with a sponge or cloth only, anything more abrasive will slowly erode the surface.
Please note the fire licks, cracks and marks on the surface of the vase are part of the process and a celebration of the beauty of the artisanal process.
A zoomorphic vase with bird heads and two handles made from Barro Rojo, polished with a red iron oxide slip and fired in open-air kilns to create the distinctive black fire licks.
This beautiful vase comes with a very special history, when the pandemic hit and many artisans in Mexico lost their income overnight, Terra decided to commission some pieces from all the Maestra's they work with.
A couple of years before, Maestra Valentina had given Terra founder Corinne Aivazian a vase on her birthday, it was completely different to anything she had made before or after. Usually the artisans in Maestra Valentina's village focus on tableware and other pieces they know they can sell at markets, but with everything closed, Maestra Valentina would finally have the time to work on something different.
She collected the clay from her land, began to develop some new ideas and forms and three months later this vessel was ready to fire under the Oaxacan sky. Valentina builds her kiln each time carefully stacking the pieces after they have spent the day backing under the sun. She uses everything from mud to dried agave leaves to fuel the flames that leave the beautiful and unique black fire licks on the pieces.
Height: 26.5cm
Width (at opening): 13cm
Care: clean with a sponge or cloth only, anything more abrasive will slowly erode the surface.
Please note the fire licks, cracks and marks on the surface of the vase are part of the process and a celebration of the beauty of the artisanal process.
A zoomorphic vase with bird heads and two handles made from Barro Rojo, polished with a red iron oxide slip and fired in open-air kilns to create the distinctive black fire licks.
This beautiful vase comes with a very special history, when the pandemic hit and many artisans in Mexico lost their income overnight, Terra decided to commission some pieces from all the Maestra's they work with.
A couple of years before, Maestra Valentina had given Terra founder Corinne Aivazian a vase on her birthday, it was completely different to anything she had made before or after. Usually the artisans in Maestra Valentina's village focus on tableware and other pieces they know they can sell at markets, but with everything closed, Maestra Valentina would finally have the time to work on something different.
She collected the clay from her land, began to develop some new ideas and forms and three months later this vessel was ready to fire under the Oaxacan sky. Valentina builds her kiln each time carefully stacking the pieces after they have spent the day backing under the sun. She uses everything from mud to dried agave leaves to fuel the flames that leave the beautiful and unique black fire licks on the pieces.
Height: 26.5cm
Width (at opening): 13cm
Care: clean with a sponge or cloth only, anything more abrasive will slowly erode the surface.
Please note the fire licks, cracks and marks on the surface of the vase are part of the process and a celebration of the beauty of the artisanal process.