Florentino Jimon is one of the famous Tonala artists known for Barro Bruñido. The Jimon family specializes in Bandera pottery because it uses colors of the Mexican flag. The white color is called “matiz” and is extracted from the earth. Many others now use commercial colors, but Florentino still uses the traditional “matiz”. Clays are extracted from the hills near Tonala and are excavated in large chunks of red, black and white. The earth is sifted into a fine powder and then water is added and the clay “ferments” over a period of time. Paints and pigments are made using the same clay and mixed with pigments from the earth. Once the clay is molded and dried, the decoration process begins – called “palmeado.” The final burnishing that is done is done with tallow. Pieces are then fired once in an open kiln.

Florentino is another of the Great Masters of Mexican Folk Art and his work is collected and recognized in many countries around the world.