Melissa Tena & Norberto Quintana: Hummingbird Seed Pot Mata Ortiz Oaxacan woodcarvings

Melissa Tena & Norberto Quintana: Hummingbird Seed Pot Mata Ortiz Oaxacan woodcarvingsThis charming Mata Ortiz seed pot, a collaboration between Melissa Tena and Norberto Quintana, feels like a little garden of clay. Hand formed in the traditional coiled technique, it is covered with beautifully etched hummingbirds flitting among blooming flowers and leafy branches. Soothing purples and fresh greens stand out against the warm, textured cream background, giving the piece a light, cheerful presence. Delicate incised lines define every

diagonally across its chest

self-contained look

” With her beak open mid-chatter and wide

captures the feline’s raw power and intensity in motion

The artist has adorned this piece with sacred geometric patterns and peyote flower motifs

His tail forms a perfect spiral beneath him

but he creates his pieces without any help

meticulous tradition of carving and engraving by hand

and the tlacuache's pink tail curls around behind him as he steadies his load

with those little red diamonds sitting in the pattern like stitched accents

Artes de México Special Edition

and this piece shows why that choice has held up