Ruben Rodriguez

Mata Ortiz

Ruben Rodriguez learned to make pottery from his younger brother, Manuel. Manuel learned by watching and working with Juan Quezada. Ruben seems to specialize in black-on-black jars using ancient Paquimé designs. He also seems to like making geometric shaped openings in his pots.

Ruben learned how to get that beautiful stone polish from Gerardo Cota. That polish makes his reduction-fired blackware gorgeous. Some of his shapes are reminiscent of water jars produced by Nampeyo of Hano. He sometimes polishes a pot five times to get the black mirror finish he prefers to paint on. Then he adds designs in which everything is highly geometric and all his angles end at precise points. Many of his jars have square or rectangular openings cut into them.

Learning Path
Ruben Rodriguez | Ruben 2
Bands of Paquime feather designs decorate a black on black jar with a square opening
Black on black jar with a square opening and decorated with bands of Paquime feather designs
2.5 in H by 4.25 in Dia
Bands of geometric design on a black on black jar with a square opening
Black on black jar with a square opening and bands of geometric design
3 in H by 5.25 in Dia
Bands of geometric design on a black on black jar
Black on black jar decorated with bands of geometric design
4.75 in H by 3.5 in Dia
Geometric design and a square opening on a black on black jar
Black on black jar with a square opening decorated with a geometric design
2.5 in H by 4.5 in Dia
A cut square opening on a black on black jar with bands of geometric design
A black on black jar decorated with bands of geometric design and a square cut opening
2.25 in H by 4.25 in Dia
Bands of geometric design on a black on black jar
Black on black jar decorated with bands of geometric design
1.75 in H by 3.25 in Dia
Geometric design on a black on black jar with a square opening
Black on black jar with a square opening and decorated with bands of geometric design
2.75 in H by 3.25 in Dia
Bands of geometric design on a ablack on black jar
Black on black jar decorated with bands of geometric design and a square opening
1.75 in H by 3.5 in Dia
Geometric design on a black on black jar
Black on black jar decorated with a geometric design
6.75 in H by 9.5 in Dia
Measurement includes stand
Bands of geometric design pon a black on black jar with a square opening
Black on black jar with a square opening and decorated with bands of geometric design
2.25 in H by 4.25 in Dia
Bands of geometric design on a black on black jar with a square opening
Black on black jar with a square opening and decorated with bands of geometric design
2 in H by 2.75 in Dia
Bands of geometric designs on a black on black jar with a square opening
Black on black jar with a square opening and decorated with bands of geometric design
2.25 in H by 3 in Dia
Square opening and geometric design on a black on black jar
Black on black jar with a square opening and decorated with a geometric design
2.75 in H by 4 in Dia
Measurement includes stand
Plain polished black jar
Plain black jar
4.25 in h by 5.75 in Dia
Mesaurement includes stand
Bands of geometric design on a black on black jar with a square opening
Black on black jar with bands of geometric design and a square opening
4 in H by 5.25 in Dia
Measurement includes stand
Geometric design on a black on black jar
Black on black jar with geometric design
7.75 in H by 7 in Dia
Measurement includes stand
Ruben Rodriguez | Ruben 2

Mata Ortiz/Casas Grandes Potters

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