Ceramics Books and Magazines

There is but one, very significant problem: the title is, to me, completely misleading. The book actually covers two villages- Octolan de Morelos, and the reigning family of potters, as well as Santa Maria Atzompa and two of the many potters who work there. San Bartolo Coyotepec and the creator of world-renown black pottery, Dona Rosa Real de Nieto, and her descendants, for example, have no coverage in this book, nor do older more traditional forms.

Oaxaca is an incredibly beutiful state, with many traditions and crafts. This book covers a small fraction of them- and in my opinion misleads with a title implying it covers all the ceramics of Oaxaca. With that caveat, I highly recommend (and give a restrained five stars to) this book, within the scope of its limitations.


A truly outstanding presentation of Oaxacan folk ceramics   July 14, 2000
 20 out of 21 found this review helpful

Having been to Oaxaca approximately ten times in the past 20 years, I can appreciate the quality and beauty of this fine book. The reasonable price of this "paperback" belies its perfect format/size and its gorgeous photography, text and printing quality.

I've rarely been satisfied with "crafts" books, but this one has been so perfectly written and executed, that it makes me want to jump on a plane and immediately fly to Oaxaca, to find and meet the fantastic artists presented here.

I met one of these women several years ago (Angelica Vasquez), and this glorious book will create an urge in many of its readers to meet her and the other artists that are included here.