page_title: Handcrafts and folk art in Hidalgo
section_title: Pottery
hierarchical_section_title: Handcrafts and folk art in Hidalgo / Pottery
caption_attribution_description: English: Ceramics by Nicolas Vita Hernandez of Chililco, Huejutla at a temporary exhibit on Hidalgo crafts at the Museo de Arte Popular, Mexico City
context_page_description: Hidalgo handcrafts and folk art are mostly made for local consumption rather than for collectors, although there have been efforts to promote this work to a wider market. Most are utilitarian and generally simply decorated, if decorated at all. The most important handcraft traditions are pottery, especially in the municipality of Huejutla and textiles, which can be found in diverse parts of the state. Most artisans are indigenous, with the Otomi populations of the Mezquital Valley being the most dominant. Other important handcrafts include basketry, metal and wood working.
context_section_description: Ceramics production is local and primarily for local, domestic use, rather than for collectors of Mexican folk art.  This include mostly unglazed wares such as those for the storage and cooking of food, for pulque,  water jugs, comals, flower pots and gourd-shaped bowls called apiloles, along with construction materials such as floor and roof tiles. Ceramic techniques are basic and non-industrial, with most shaped by hand and fired outdoors over an open fire, or occasionally in a family kiln.
  The municipality of Huejutla is home to the state’s best known pottery traditions. One of these is a white clay, unglazed, with sepia or black painted decorations and another is ochre colored unglazed pieces typically painted with white (sometimes with gray or black) lines to create flora and avian designs.  These are used to make storage and serving containers for liquids and food, animal figures, candle holders, whistles and more. Both of these are centered mostly in the Huastec communiityof Chililco, but are also made in the nearby communities Macuxtepetla, Oxtomal y Tepexititla. Many of the traditional design elements have meanings, such as wavy lines for water and an “s” shape for the constellation Gemini.
  Other communities also have distinctive pottery designs and traditions.  Chapatongo makes jars and jugs for water, baked only once and undecorated except for naturally discolorations which naturally happen when they are fired. San Pedro de las Ollas has a small production of water jugs and flower pots distinguished with spiral motifs in black over a polished red background. Tulancingo still has some production of majolica style pottery but it has degenerated.  In addition, utilitarian pottery is produced in Alfajayucan, Huasca de Ocampo and Metztitlán.
caption: White clay pieces by Nicolas Vita Hernandez of Chililco, Huejutla
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