The Technique. Oscar uses the ancient "Paleteado" technique to craft magnificent vases. Mendoza is a sculptor, and over the years, has worked the clays of the Puna, reinterpreting pre-hispanic esthetical models ¹.

The potters' wheel did not exist in the Americas. Earthenware objects were shaped simetrically, entirely by hand.
The technique used by Oscar begins with a ball of clay, which he kneads into shape, hollowing out its center.
With the image of the final piece in mind, Oscar gradually buids up the walls with a wooden pallet, hence the name Paleteado. Using the pallet like a trowel, he gently shapes the contours, bulges (hollow on the inside) or depressions creating the figures of his pieces.

He works on the semi-hardened walls before they set, finishing all the details.
Oscar then proceeds with another mass of clay, using the previous layer to support it. In this manner he works his way up, from the base of the vases to the top.
Most of his pieces are inspired by Kolla legends, and represent human figures, mothers nursing their babies, couples, people....

The Colours. Oscar chooses and gathers the clay he uses, from the mountains and valleys that surround San Salvador de Jujuy, his hometown.
His workshop is a display of many tones of red, yellow, ochre and brown clays.
He also collects rocks, which he grinds to separate the natural mineral oxides, whose green and black hues colour his pieces.

History. There are several periods in Northwestern Argentina's archaeological history, ranging from the Early (250 AD - 500 AD) to the Late (1000 AD - 1480 AD). Many cultures (such as Ciénaga, Otumpa, Tafí, Humahuaca, Santa María, Aguada, Hualfín,)² applied different techniques in their ceramics.
Oscar has studied the pre-hispanic techniques which were used by the native inhabitants of the Puna, he investigated their engobes, the clays and oxides found in archaeological excavations³, and perfected his technique to recreate the bright colours of their pieces.
The outcome is reflected in beautifully handcrafted artistic ceramics.

Oscar Mendoza and wife.

¹ Mordo, Carlos - La Herencia Olvidada - Fondo Nacional de las Artes. Buenos Aires - Part IV, pp. 211
² Rex González,Alberto. Pérez, José A. -Historia Argentina Vol 1. Argentina Indígena Vísperas de la conquista - Editorial Paidós. Buenos Aires - Chapter 1, pp 45
³ Further reading: Fernández, Jorge - Caracterización mineralógica, petrográfica y granulométrica de arcillas y antiplásticos usados en la alfarería tradicional de la Puna Jujeña - Relaciones XXIV: 139-158, 1999

Oscar's molds his exceptional ceramic pieces in different sizes, ranging from 15 to 48 cm (6 to 19") tall. Below we display some of his large creations (taller than 30.5 cm - 1 foot):

Pot 1 (Olla 1)

Pot 2 (Olla 2)

Amañau

Cristianos
Height: 48 cm - 19"

America indigena - View 1

America indigena - View 2

Kolla man
Height: 33 cm - 13"

Kolla woman
Height: 30.5 cm - 12"