Description: Doña Rosa (Rosa Real Mateo de Nieto) was a ceramics artisan from Oaxaca, Mexico. She is credited with the invention of a technique for making black pottery.
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Rosa Real Mateo de Nieto was a ceramics artisan from Oaxaca, Mexico. Doña Rosa is known for creating a method for producing a pottery style called barro negro (black clay). The black, shiny appearance is fully realized after firing the clay. Photo of Doñ Rosa Real Mateo de Nieto from 1966
Doña Rosa died in 1980. The pottery making tradition of making the barro negro pottery is being carried on by her descendents in San Bartolo Coyotepec, Oaxaca.
Doña Rosa's black pottery became a favorite of collectors and is now mimicked by others throughout Oaxaca and other areas. Barro negro pottery has been produced for hundreds of years; examples of it having been found at numerous archeological sites in Mexico. This style of black clay pottery has remained a traditional craft of the Zapotecs and Mixtecs to this day. Doñ Rosa with her grandson in 1966. Photo by Bob Natkin.