The Maya have been making ceramics the same way for centuries. To produce a bowl, the potter sits on the ground before a wooden board. Using her hands, she forms the flat base of the bowl. Then she builds up the sides by placing ropes of clay, called gusanos (worms) on the base. Once the coils are tall enough, she then smoothes out the clay. The potter’s hands, fingertips, and palms are her main tools, though she will use a piece of rubber and/or the flat of a knife to work the piece to a smoother finish. Then the bowl is left to dry in the sun for several days.

Once the bowl is dry, it is time to paint it.  The colors used are mostly yellow and brown. Pigments are extracted from stones the women either collect in the mountains or buy from other women who have collected them. The bowl’s surface is rubbed with a rough stone to help the clay absorb the paint. The designs are geometric figures, wavy lines, flowers, birds, suns, and little bulls. Once painted, the piece is “fired,” an outdoor activity that all the women in the family participate in.

 

(Adapted from source)