Hecho En Mexico, By Ann Hazzard, Los Cabos Magazine – Issue #12 – Spring 2007.
Talavera Pottery
Talavera pottery is the Mexican variation of the Spanish “majolica” pottery—a white, glazed earthenware ceramic that is durable, brightly painted and famous throughout México. Not limited to pots, plates, jars and religious figures, Talavera tiles adorn many of the country’s buildings, patios, town squares and kitchens. They decorate cupolas and the facades of monasteries. Originally created in the town of Talavera de la Reina in Spain during the Italian Renaissance, the exotic style and innovative construction of Talavera pottery was influenced dramatically by Moorish, Islamic, and Far Eastern cultures.
The craft was brought to México immediately following Cortés’ conquest of the Aztecs in the 1500s. From the moment it was established in 1532, the city of Puebla became the most important earthenware center in New Spain. Even today it is still the primary producer of Talavera pottery. Originally, Spaniards—using strict quality control and guidelines—taught the art to local Indian artisans. Although the indigenous people were accomplished potters and had a long tradition of producing earthenware, they had no experience in using potters’ wheels or in tin glazing. The accepted story is that Spanish monks from the Santo Domingo Monastery in Puebla sent for craftsmen from Talavera de la Reina to teach the Indians to create pieces similar to those produced in Spain. The monks were anxious to decorate their monasteries and churches with the blue and white tiles of their homeland. It didn’t take long before enough pottery and tiles were produced to meet the need for tableware, architectural tiles, and utilitarian pottery in the New World.
A potter’s guild was formed in Puebla and ordinances were created, so that the Talavera pottery was uniform in its quality and design. Three categories of earthenware pottery were designated: fine, semi–fine and for daily use. Blue was used on the finest ceramics, because the mineral pigments needed to produce the color were very expensive. Rules were strict. Yearly examinations were held, and the craftsmen were required to pass in order to be considered “master potters.” Each master potter was required to sign or otherwise mark his products. To this day, the name Talavera is given only to the earthenware that is produced in Puebla, and it must say so on the piece.
It is the Mexican artistry and creativity that has made Talavera a contemporary art form. During the 18th century, master potters began experimenting with colors and added yellow, green, mauve and orange to the traditional blue tones. Today Talavera pottery (named for its Spanish city of origin) is made in the towns of Puebla and Dolores Hidalgo. You can often see the influence of Moorish designs in Mexican Talavera, but the Mexicans also include complex floral designs and copies of famous Mexican paintings and other images, such as the Virgin of Guadalupe.––Ann Hazard
