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Leopoldo de Mexico — Terracotta Bowl — Pre-Columbian Style — Green Glazed Interior — Signed — Vintage 1979
There is a whole civilization running around the outside of this bowl. Dogs — or perhaps coyotes, perhaps something older and less nameable — rendered in black and white against warm terracotta, moving in procession around the circumference as they have for thousands of years on the walls of pyramids and the sides of ancient vessels. Circular symbols punctuate the frieze like punctuation between sentences in a language that predates written language. And then you look inside and there is that deep, still, extraordinary green — glazed and luminous, the color of jungle canopy seen from above.
This is the work of Leopoldo de Mexico, whose name is engraved with quiet confidence into the unglazed base — three words that tell you everything you need to know about provenance and pride of authorship. The bowl was purchased in Mexico in 1979, which puts it solidly in the era when Mexican folk pottery was at a celebrated peak of international appreciation, when buyers were seeking out exactly this kind of work — handmade, regionally rooted, visually arresting, and unmistakably alive.
The construction is terracotta, wood-fired, with the warmth and slight irregularity that only hand work produces. The exterior decoration is executed in the Pre-Columbian tradition — stylized animal figures outlined in white against black, repeating around the band in a rhythm that feels both ancient and completely contemporary. The interior green glaze is rich, deep, and flawless — a deliberate and brilliant contrast to the earthy warmth of the terracotta exterior.
At 11.5 inches in diameter and 3.5 inches tall, this is a substantial, presence-commanding piece. It works as a fruit bowl, a display vessel, a centerpiece, or simply an object that sits on a shelf and makes everything around it look considered. It is the kind of pottery that serious collectors of Mexican folk art, Pre-Columbian inspired ceramics, and mid-century Latin American craft will recognize immediately and want immediately.
Condition: Excellent. No chips, cracks, or repairs noted. The glaze interior is bright and intact. The exterior decoration is vivid and well-preserved. The base shows light wear consistent with age and handling. Please review all photos carefully for a complete understanding of condition. Photos are of the actual item for sale. Not stock photos.
Dimensions: Approximately 3.5 inches tall, 11.5 inches in diameter.
Signed: \"Leopoldo de Mexico\" engraved into the base.
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