The traditional pottery of Santa Domingo has a cream colored slip on a red clay body, with black (and sometimes red) designs painted on the cream slip. The bottom of the vessel is often left red, and a black band is sometimes painted about the rim. Designs are geometric and/or naturalistic with flowers and birds being the most commmon. Below are three typical Santa Domingo pots made by members of the Melchor family. The first two on the left are the work of Santana Melchor, one of the most important potters of Santo Domingo in the first half of this century. The one on the right is by Conchita Melchor.

8" high

5" in diameter

7" high

 

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