Huacinto, Michoacán, México
In the state of Michoacán, México, master artisan Bernardina Rivera and her daughter, Roselia Felipe Rivera, carry on a centuries-old tradition of Purépecha pottery. They speak their native language, Purépecha (also known as Tarasco), and learned their craft from their parents, who in turn inherited it from previous generations.
The artistry of their village is tied to the legacy of Don Vasco de Quiroga, a 16th-century bishop. After the devastation of the Conquest, he worked to reunite and stabilize the Purépecha people. He introduced the potter's wheel and, to address the region’s water scarcity, he assigned each village a specific craft, encouraging them to specialize in what they did best.
Bernardina and Roselia's village was given the task of creating ollas, traditional round pots ideal for carrying and storing water in this semi-arid region. Over time, these simple pots evolved into tall, beautiful sculptural mounds that allow a large amount of water to be stored in a small space.
The family's process begins with carefully prepared clay. They coat the pots with a special brown earth pigment, which creates a rich, luminous sheen when polished. The shiny surfaces are then meticulously decorated with delicate flowers, birds, and butterflies. These intricate designs are painted with fine brushes made from cat hair, a testament to the detail and care that goes into each piece.
Recognized as "Mexican folk art at its best," Bernardina's work is
featured in the prestigious book Great Masters of Mexican Folk Art. For Heirlome’s Spring 2026 collection, Bernardina and Roselia recreated their popular floral and bird motifs, which were then adapted into stunning prints for macrame and crochet dresses and knitwear.
Huacinto, Michoacán, México
In the state of Michoacán, México, master artisan Bernardina Rivera and her daughter, Roselia Felipe Rivera, carry on a centuries-old tradition of Purépecha pottery. They speak their native language, Purépecha (also known as Tarasco), and learned their craft from their parents, who in turn inherited it from previous generations.
The artistry of their village is tied to the legacy of Don Vasco de Quiroga, a 16th-century bishop. After the devastation of the Conquest, he worked to reunite and stabilize the Purépecha people. He introduced the potter's wheel and, to address the region’s water scarcity, he assigned each village a specific craft, encouraging them to specialize in what they did best.
Bernardina and Roselia's village was given the task of creating ollas, traditional round pots ideal for carrying and storing water in this semi-arid region. Over time, these simple pots evolved into tall, beautiful sculptural mounds that allow a large amount of water to be stored in a small space.
The family's process begins with carefully prepared clay. They coat the pots with a special brown earth pigment, which creates a rich, luminous sheen when polished. The shiny surfaces are then meticulously decorated with delicate flowers, birds, and butterflies. These intricate designs are painted with fine brushes made from cat hair, a testament to the detail and care that goes into each piece.
Recognized as "Mexican folk art at its best," Bernardina's work is
featured in the prestigious book Great Masters of Mexican Folk Art. For Heirlome’s Spring 2026 collection, Bernardina and Roselia recreated their popular floral and bird motifs, which were then adapted into stunning prints for macrame and crochet dresses and knitwear.
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