The Pottery District of Puebla

Handpainted Talavera PotteryFor three centuries a maiolica pottery industry flourished in the Spanish colonial city of Puebla, Mexico. Throughout that time it enjoyed a virtual monopoly in supplying tableware for provincial users of New Spain. It also successfully competed with peninsular Spanish and other European products in more outlying areas in the Caribbean basin. Its colorful tile became a distinguishing hallmark of Puebla architecture. Yet, much of the suggested dating for the various decorative styles that evolved during the course of those centuries has come from finds outside of central Mexico, principally ones scattered from Florida to California along the northern borderlands of the former vice royalty.

A more secure and refined chronology derived from stratified materials at or near the original source of the pottery is essential for future research in all sites, whatever side of the international border, where those ceramics are present. With that objective in mind, in the summer of 1981 a search was undertaken within Puebla for undisturbed ceramic deposits suitable for seriation. Preliminary to that search was the determination of the probable locations of the old work yards. That proved to be a relatively easy task, with results of potentially more importance than simply dating of artifacts.

Once the pottery workshop locations were graphically plotted on a map, it was obvious for the first time that a well defined potters’ quarter had existed in Puebla from shadowy beginnings in the late 16th century into the 20th century. Quite likely both unglazed or lead glazed utility vessels and tin glazed tablewares and tiles were made there, though not in the same household factories nor by the same artisans. At a time estimated to be about, the middle of the 19th century (hence the Mexican rather than Spanish period), a second district toward the eastern suburbs began to house small potteries given over to mass production of utilitarian objects.

Mexican Talavera Pottery

Talavera isn’t just any kind of pottery, though, and not just any artisan can make it. The form, which is known in Spain as majolica, is a tin-enameled earthenware whose hard white glaze provides a backdrop against which the vivid glazes applied to it can visually pop. And those vivid glazes are selected carefully; in fact, for Mexican talavera to be considered authentic, it can only be painted in one or more of six colors– black, blue, green, orange, yellow, or mauve–all of which must be made of natural dyes and all of which must be painted onto the piece of tile or pottery by hand. The clay, a mix of a lighter and darker barro, must also come from Puebla and the forms into which it is shaped are fired twice. The process is hands-on, time-intensive, and elaborate.

In Mexico, the center of authentic talavera production is the state of Puebla, whose artisans have been renowned for the ceramic form since it was introduced to the country. In fact, Puebla has denominación de orígen status as the source of authentic talavera, and though the tradition of this art form originated in Europe, local producer Uriarte claims that Puebla is the largest producer of talavera in the world today. Read full article here:  The Latin Kitchen