NICARAGUAN POTTERY  

The pottery pieces made in Nicaraguan are truly magnificent, bright colored and durable.  Each of these pieces is made by hand by artisans from the village of San Juan de Oriente.  Some 500 years ago, the pieces were a little cruder in design but with better materials, you now see some elaborate designs and techniques, although the pieces of pottery are still crafted by hand, using a potter’s wheel. 

Once the piece has been designed, it is set to dry for two to four days.  The interesting thing about Nicaraguan pottery is that each artisan has his or her distinct style, which can be seen in the final pottery piece.  As an example, you will find vividly colored, abstract designs, wonderful designs of insects, animals, or amphibians, bird designs, geometric designs, pottery with stripes, some with fish, and many other unique pre-Columbian and traditional designs.  However, today you will even find some artisans that prefer the contemporary Escher-type designs. 

Depending on the artisan, some pieces Nicaraguan pottery pieces are designed with a relief panel, which works to accentuate the overall design.  To create this look, pieces of the design are cut out and then recreated as texture for the background.  Then, mineral oxides are used that are lead free while still creating the beautiful color, often seen as bright red, deep blue, and green.  Next, the pottery piece is fired at very low temperature. 

If the pottery is designed to hold water and food, it would be glazed on the inside, but this is not terribly common.  Instead, you typically see this type of pottery being used for displaying dry things that would include feathers, grasses, flowers, or the pottery might be placed on a fireplace mantle or table just so you can admire its beauty.  During the 1970s there was a revival of this traditional craft, in part because of an organization called “Potters for Peace”, which brought together volunteers and artisans from around the globe. 

Today, you have the opportunity to buy magnificent Nicaraguan pottery, choosing from smaller pieces to those that are quite large.  Therefore, if you want to decorate your home or office with unique pottery that has been painstakingly made by hand, then this is an excellent option.  Nicaraguan pottery also makes an outstanding gift idea when trying to find that perfect gift for someone special. 

By shopping around the internet, you can find many wonderful options at very affordable prices.  In fact, it is common to find a handmade piece of Nicaraguan pottery for as little as $40.  What is so amazing is the quality of each piece.  You can see immediately the pride and hard work that went into the piece as it looks better than something mass produced.