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Talavera vs. Talavera-like
Talavera
Talavera ceramic is a traditional handicraft that has been produced in Puebla, Mexico with basically
the same materials and procedures for over four centuries. In order to preserve the tradition, several
workshops that follow the XVI century manufacturing technique, requested and obtained, in 1997,
the Federal Government’s protection under the international denomination of origin regulations, which
identify certain products whose characteristics are essentially or exclusively due to a particular
geographical environment, including natural and human components.
For a piece to be called Talavera, it has to follow these standards:
- Workshop located and clay obtained from the region called Talavera, in the State of Puebla, Mexico.
- Individual fabrication, hand painted.
- Diffused colors.
- Craquel presence in its surface (small fissures).
- The base glaze should be neither completely white nor transparent.
- Relatively heavier than other ceramics.
- Rigid and very hard constitution.
- Great resistance to wear and fade.
- Total compliance with the lead content in glazed ceramics.
Talavera v.s. Talavera-like
Unfortunately, due to the beauty and popularity of the product, and the complexity and expense involved in
producing authentic Talavera, there has been a proliferation of talavera-like products. These are
regularly not produced following the century’s old tradition. They
are usually painted with artificial chemicals and not the original mineral based paints. They are
glazed using cheap materials that fail to produce the distinctive crackling surface. The glaze is
usually made of a whiter and lighter substance as opposed to the original heavy and more grayish
background found in authentic Talavera. Perhaps most importantly, they lack the level of detail
and craftsmanship, in both form and decoration, found only in authentic pieces.
By purchasing at Talavera.com, you can rest assured that you will receive only 100% authentic
Talavera pieces that completely fulfill the denomination of origin regulations.
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