Description

In the Chihuahuan desert of northern Mexico, the Casas Grandes culture flourished in the regional centre of Paquimé from 1200-1400 AD. Paquimé is the largest known ancient Puebloan town and was a massive trade centre that specialized in exotic goods like macaws, turquoise, and sea shells. It was also a major producer of ceramics, which are characterized by complex geometric designs. The designs on this vessel are a perfect example of "negative painting", a technique that involves outlining the figure in wax before painting the surrounding area and firing. The wax prevents the paint from adhering to certain areas, leaving the base colour of the pot to show through.