1980s Vintage Mexican Pottery by Esteban Valdez, Mule

Description

Esteban Valdez is a self-taught potter who creates simple clay bowls with primitive, fanciful designs of animals. His bowls are … more Esteban Valdez is a self-taught potter who creates simple clay bowls with primitive, fanciful designs of animals. His bowls are collected by many and I've read that one of his pieces is part of a collection at the Smithsonian. I don't know if he is still alive. If he is, he would be in his mid-nineties. It is rare to see his work for sale. I am listing 3 pieces separately. This one shows a man trying to get a mule to follow him. The dialect is native to the region but I imagine it says stubborn mule. Spanish would not be the first language of San Jose de Pantoja, his town. This is made from clay found in the local river. He uses donkey tail hair to trim the sides and molds the shapes on rocks. less