Mexican Folk Art: Clay Pineapples of San José de Gracia

Among Mexican handcrafts, the clay pineapples from San José de Gracia, are one of the most representative of Michoacán folk art.

Mexican Pottery: Clay Pineapples of San José de Gracia

The indigenous community of San José de Gracia is located in the municipality of Tangancícuaro, in the western part of Michoacan.  It has gained popularity thanks to its famous clay pineapples, which never cease to amaze our guests at Hotel Mansion Iturbe in  Pátzcuaro.

Mexican Decorations at Hotel Mansion Iturbe in Patzcuaro

Year after year, our guests buy up a storm at the craft fairs in the Plaza Vasco de Quiroga, which take place the week of Night of the Dead and as well as during Easter week, as well as at the renowned Palm Sunday artisan fair in Uruapan, a short distance from our magical village.

Handicraft Items: Clay Pineapples of San José de Gracía, Michoacán

José María Alejos Cerano is proud of his Purépecha culture and of the craft tradition in his family, and explains how it evolved.

Mexican Pottery made by Jose Maria Alejos and his wife.

Don Vasco de Quiroga was instrumental in organizing the craftsmen in the various towns around Lake Pátzcuaro, and San José de Gracia was to be a center for utility jugs, pots, and pans. Some years ago, José’s grandmother Doña Elisa Madrigal Martinez ventured to alter the tradition and designed and created the first pineapples. She brought her piece to the artisan fair in Pátzcuaro and won an award for innovation, and her pineapple was displayed at the Folk Art Museum.

Mexican Decorations at the Folk Art Museum in Patzcuaro

Subsequently, the grandmother continued fine-tuning her design and her family of five children pitched in, and they continued to receive awards.  José María Alejos Madrigal has worked pottery since the age of 10 (he’s 67 now), and has handed down the craft to his own children.

Mexican Pottery: Clay Pineapples of San José de Gracia

In the beginning, only green and brown pineapples were made. Subsequently, the yellow variety was introduced by Daniel Diego Ortiz.

José María Alejos Madrigal then introduced blue, using a lead-free glaze.  Today, we can see other exciting hues.

The process involves letting the mud begin to dry completely.  It is then ground to a fine powder and water is reintroduced to the perfect texture, followed by kneading, and letting it stand and settle for 2 or 3 days.

Afterward, two molds are used to give the shape of the pot, and are left to set for a day.  Then the feet are added, and the intricate decorations are added.

The technique uses a hand-molded paste, using the tips of the fingers.  It is allowed to dry in the shade for 2 or 3 days, then in the sun for 7 to 10 days.

When dry, a white paste is applied and the pineapple is put in a wood-fired oven at a low temperature so it won’t crack. Once fired, it is glazed with the chosen color.  Though the shape of the object is unmistakably that of a pineapple, the surface of the shape may include small shells, flowers, smaller pineapples, and other shapes.

Mexican Pottery from San Jose de Gracia, Michoacán

Mexican Folk Art from San José de Gracia, Michoacán

Mexican Pottery from San José de Gracia, Michoacán

Mexican Pottery from San José de Gracia, Michoacán

Mexican Folk Art from San José de Gracia, Michoacán

Mexican Pottery from San José de Gracia, Michoacán

The lids of the pineapples can be as diversified, sometimes introducing things such as calla lilies.

Once again, with the glaze applied, it is put back into the wood-fired oven for another 3 hours to set the glaze.

The artisans of San José de Gracia are very creative and are constantly innovating. Currently, we can find shapes other than pineapples. Piggy banks are now a hot item; they can be in the shapes of roosters, pigs, candle holders, and pumpkins.

Handicrafts Items form San José de Gracia Michoacán

José María Alejos Cerano says that an ideal day of the year for visiting his indigenous community is the second Sunday of July, which is the local competition, normally held at the school football field.

Mexican Folk Art Artists Jose Maria Alejos Ceron, Jose Maria Alejos Madrigal and Cecilia Ceron Gutierrez

The indigenous community of San José de Gracia, municipality of Tangancícuaro, is located approximately two-and-a-half hour from Pátzcuaro.

We encourage you to visit this community and marvel at their creations of Mexican folk art!


*Text and pictures property of Hotel Mansión Iturbe in Pátzcuaro.


We invite you to check more post in our blog, you will find information about Pátzcuaro and the surroundig area, that we hope will be useful for your next trip to our colonial town.


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Hotel Mansión Iturbe

Portal Morelos 59

Plaza Vasco de Quiroga

6100 Pátzcuaro, Michoacán

México.

 

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