“Great Masters of Mexican Folkart” is required reading for collectors and interested devotees of indigenous Mexican art. Emilio is 84 years old and began working with clay alongside his father when he was six years old. He lives and works in the state of Michoacán.

One of the things you notice right away about Emilo's pottery are the distinctive and unusual shapes. He is a quiet man who, with a twinkle in his eye, loves to talk about his work. His entire family is involved in continuing the Molinero pottery tradition.

One day, while wandering through the surrounding fields, Emilio discovered remains of some pre-Hispanic ceramics. The designs attracted him and he began to copy them in his own work. This story resembles that of the famed Juan Quezada of Mata Ortiz, Chihuahua who likewise found pottery shards of an ancient people and longed to recreate the beautiful pottery.

Emilio’s work in burnished pieces has garnered him acclaim in the world of ceramics. He transports his clay on the back of a mule from various sites and then grinds the material into a fine powder. Most often he uses red and black clays. After the intensive mixing, molding, polishing, and painting in tones of red and white, the piece is fired in a wood kiln and reaches a temperature of 700º C.

Emilio exemplifies the best in Mexico's handicrafts and has earned his place in the folkart community. He participated in the 2003 Maestros del Arte Exhibition. Watch for him again in 2005.

If you are interested in purchasing some of the Emilio's work, please call Marianne Carlson at 011522 376 765 7485 or email mariannecarlson@gmail.com

(Our thanks to Norm Tihor for the use of his photographs)