Mexican handicrafts/artesanias are exemplified in the art of pottery. In the state of Michoacán, a group of men extract large chunks of clay utilizing picks and shovels. The material is put into sacks and brought back to the village on the backs of burros or mules.

This is the raw material with which Hilario Alejos Madrigal creates his celebrated pineapple pots with their bright green glaze. The work of this artisan stands out for its dintinctive handcrafted appliqué work. Hilario and his brother, Bulmaro, learned the secrets of working with clay from their mother, Elisa Madrigal Martínez, creator of the famous pineapples of Carapan.

In the beginning, they produced handmade utilitarian pieces but were drawn to creating more elaborate objects. They began to fabricate new figures which they entered in diverse competitions. Outstanding are the ornamental pineapples, elaborated with techniques of appliqué and openwork, and whose production requires exceptional skill and mastery.

Punchbowls, candleabras of various sizes, towers of pots and more, form part of the range of pieces that Bulmaro produces. He works fulltime on his handcrafted folk art ceramics as they represent his chief source of income.

Hilario is a featured artist in the beautiful "Great Masters of Mexican Folk Art" book.

He has attended Feria Maestros del Arte in 2005-2006 and will be with us again in 2007.

If you are interested in purchasing some of Hilario's work, call Marianne Carlson at 01152 376 765 7485 or email mariannecarlson@gmail.com

(Our thanks to Karen Henderson for the use of her photographs)