Lagarto Cococha Clay Vase | Small

Perched high in the Meseta Purépecha of Michoacán, San Bartolomé Cocucho is home to one of the region’s strongest Indigenous Purépecha communities and a pottery tradition that has endured for centuries. The town’s very name—derived from the Purépecha word Kukúch, meaning pot or jar—reflects its deep connection to clay.

The artisans of Cocucho are renowned for their monumental ollas cocuchas, handbuilt vessels crafted from clay mixed with volcanic sand. Smoothed with river stones and a corn cob, and wood-fired outdoors, each piece carries the markings of ancient technique and natural fire. Once used to store water and grains, these vessels have evolved into sculptural works celebrated worldwide. Today, Cocucho’s artisans continue to honour their ancestors through innovation—preserving a living heritage shaped by earth, fire, and community.