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The art of Lenca pottery is presently being restored by a small population of Indian women who have formed groups to restore and promote this unique Pre-Columbian art of their people. From the youngest to the eldest, all participate in its process and structure. This beautiful pottery was known in the pre-Hispanic era. It is made completely from nature's own materials.
The men help in chopping firewood for the baking process and hauling mud from remote areas to the homes and working spaces; the balance of the process is a "women only" enterprise. The mud, obtained from four different localities, makes up the four color groups used: dark brown, brown, red, and white. After a 3-step refining process, it is mixed with water and molded into a fine-textured clay. It is then ready for shaping and designing into whatever is the artist's desire of the moment or day. Currently, more than 200 designs are being produced. The only tools used in this process are dried corn husks and twigs.
After shaping and forming, the pieces are baked in a large over at high temperature. When cool, the pieces are ready for the colors to be applied. A special mixture using a secret formula is applied to preserve the colors. Various designs include aqua, traditional, nativity, and contemporary lines. A final open-fire process is used that is done using burning different types of leaves to achieve the final colors. The next steps are to clean the relief layer of clay from each piece and pass it on to the ladies for polishing. Pieces are buffed with a stone called the "piedra de raya", meaning "lightning stone." Pieces are then baked again, sometimes as many as three times, to achieve the final appearance desired by the potter.
The Lenca Indians are one of the first known peoples of Honduras, some 1,500 years ago. This pottery is made the by the same Indians using a unique method to produce beautiful designs.