History of Talavera – Page 4

Colonial Mexican Pottery

August 17, 2015 by admin

The production of glazed earthenware pottery was one of the earliest and most developed industries of New Spain, as colonial Mexico was called. The principal center of production, Puebla de Los Angeles, located south of Mexico City, was making wares by 1573. By the mid-seventeenth century, the Spanish had established a number of workshops in Puebla, and a potters’ guild was formed to control quality.

The pottery from Puebla was called Talavera de Puebla because the wares were intended to rival the Spanish pottery from Talavera de la Reina, a city near Toledo, Spain. Although the Mexican Indians had a thriving pottery industry at the time the Spanish arrived, the Europeans produced wares using their own techniques of wheel-thrown ceramics and tin glazing. The pottery from Puebla belongs to the majolica type, having an earthenware body that is covered with a white lead glaze that is then painted with colored glazes. Established in Europe by Islamic craftsmen in Spain, this technique is the same for Italian majolica, French faience, and Dutch delftware.Colonial Mexican ceramics are distinguished from the Spanish by the original ways in which Mexican potters absorbed artistic traditions from the East and West. European ceramics were imported to Mexico beginning in the late sixteenth century, and Chinese wares were plentiful since Mexico was on the Spanish trade route with China.

The impact of Chinese blue-and-white ceramics can be seen in the number of pieces from Puebla with a cobalt blue glaze. And the forms of the drug jar and vases were inspired by Chinese vessels. Other influences came from the Spanish colonial experience. Two tiles depict Native American warriors with feathered skirt and cape. An interesting substitution can be seen on the vase with iron hardware, where a stylized Mexican quetzal appears instead of a Chinese phoenix. The tiles with religious subjects remind us that tiles were made by the thousands to decorate Mexican churches, monasteries, and graveyards.The freedom Mexican artists exercised is seen best, perhaps, in the large vase that juxtaposes a European woman in a chariot with a host of animated Chinese figures. The humans and animals are filled with dots, an Islamic tradition for indicating living figures. This surprising, vibrant creation unites several worlds of art in one object.

Philadelphia Museum of Art – Summer 1992

Talavera from Mexico

August 4, 2015 by admin

Talavera was introduced to Mexico by Spanish guild artisans of the Colonial period. Known as “majolica” in Spain, Mexican Talavera draws its name from the 16th century Spanish pottery center, Talavera de la Reina, where imagination and persistence led to enormous strides in the world’s knowledge of fine ceramics. Thus, while the intricate polychrome and more typical blue and white designs portray their old world legacy, the indigenous floral and celestial motifs featured on these pages claim the ceramics as classically Mexican.

Most of the Talavera pottery offered by La Fuente Imports, including all plates, platters, and place settings, is made by hand in Puebla, Mexico, and is 100% lead-free as well as microwave, oven, and dishwasher safe. The detail is outstanding, and due to the kiln’s high firing temperature all our Talavera dishware is also crack and chip resistant. Other items, including our Talavera sinks, canisters, planters, and fruit bowls, come from the historic city of Dolores Hidalgo. Every design is painted by hand, and all plates and platters are made with an eyelet on the back for hanging on walls. So whether for home decoration or for day-to-day use in the dining room, our extensive selection of authentic Talavera pottery is sure to make a wonderful addition to your home décor.

Museo de la Talavera

August 1, 2015 by admin

The Museo de la Talavera (Talavera Museum) has been established in the city of Puebla, with an initial collection of 400 pieces. The museum is dedicated to recounting the origins, history, expansions and variations in the craft. Pieces include some of the simplest and most complex, as well as those representing different eras.

Several temporary and traveling exhibits of certain themes have been created from these permanent collections. One of these was called “El Aguila en la Historia de Mexico” (The Eagle in the History of Mexico). The forty-two-piece exhibit was sponsored by the Senate of Mexico to show how the eagle symbol has been used in the country throughout its history. This exhibit was sponsored in honor of the Bicentennial of Independence in 2010. These ceramics were chosen because of their combination of art and utility. Eagles depicted include that of Mexico’s coat of arms, as well as those of political figures such as José María Morelos y Pavón and Porfirio Díaz, and those used by institutions such as the Royal and Pontifical University of Mexico and the Mexican Senate itself.

Another exhibit in Mexico centered on the creation of maps using Talavera tile. Most tiles during the colonial period were decorated with flowers and landscapes but a significant number were painted to create murals with maps. Those that survive show how a number of cities developed over the colonial period. Eight of the most representative 16th-century Talavera tile maps were at the El Carmen Museum at an exhibit called “Cartografia: Una Vision en Talavera del Mexico Colonial” (Cartography: A Talavera Vision of Colonial Mexico). This exhibit was of reproductions of the originals created by the Talavera de la Luz workshop in Puebla. The chosen maps show the development of Mexico City as well as representations of the Acapulco, Puebla and the Tesuco regions during this time period.

Exhibits have been held outside of Mexico as well. The Museum of the Americas in Spain held an exhibit called “Talaveras de Puebla, Cerámica colonial Mexicana. Siglos XVII a XXI” (Talavera Pottery of Puebla, Mexican colonial ceramics, XVII to 21st centuries). This was a temporary exhibit of 49 pieces, combined with pieces from Spain and China as references. The pieces were loaned by the Franz Mayer Museum and the Bello Museum.

Intricately Detailed Talavera Tiles

July 15, 2015 by admin

Handcrafts in Mexico vary widely from materials used, techniques and employ and styles preferred. The most prevalent of Mexico’s crafts is ceramics/pottery. Ceramics was considered one of the highest art forms during the Aztec Empire, with the knowledge of making pottery said to have come from the god Quetzalcoatl himself.

Pre-Hispanic pottery was made by coiling the clay into a circle then up the sides, then scraping and molding the coiled work until the coils could no longer be detected. The Spanish introduced the potters’ wheel and new glazing techniques. Majolica glazed pottery was introduced by the Spanish. Puebla in particular is renowned for its variety of Majolica, which is called Talavera. One distinctive feature of this city is that many kitchens and buildings are decorated with intricately detailed Talavera tiles. Tiles are a subset of ceramic pottery and were used extensively in colonial-era Mexico. These tiles were first fired at a low temperature, then hand-painted with intricate designs, then fired at a high temperature to set the glaze. These are still made, but most decorative tiles used in Mexico are factory-made. Unglazed pottery is still made, but generally it is for decorative purposes only, and copies the designs of pre-Hispanic cultures.

Talavera is the Oldest Tin-Glazed Ceramic in America

July 13, 2015 by admin

Talavera is the oldest tin-glazed ceramic in America and it is still being manufactured with the same techniques as in the 16^th Century.

Puebla not only was the second most important city in Mexico, after the country’s capital Mexico City, it was the most important earthenware center of the Nueva España, which was the name of Mexico in Colonial times.

The production of tiles and ceramic ware in Puebla, started almost immediately the city was established in 1531. Thanks to the abundance of quality clay in the region and to the splendor of the arts at that time in Puebla, in a short time the Talavera Poblana achieved such quality and beauty that it was soon exported to the rest of the continent.

There are several theories about its origin in Mexico, but the most accepted explanation is that Spanish monks from the Santo Domingo monastery in Puebla, sent for craftsmen from Talavera de la Reina to teach the indigenous people of the region how to work the clay so they could create pieces similar to the ones produced in Spain. They wanted to decorate with tiles and religious sculptures their monastery and church.

The indigenous people of Mexico were very accomplished potters and already had a very long tradition producing earthenware. But they did not know how to use the potters wheel or tin-glaze their pottery, which is one of the main characteristics of the majolica ceramic.

Other versions state that the Dominican friars were the ones that knew how to produce this type of ceramic and that they were the ones that taught the Indians how to do it.

The truth is there are documents that record the presence of several craftsmen from Talavera de la Reina in Puebla during the 16^th Century, which established their workshops to produce tiles and ceramic wares. It was a very profitable business since there were so many churches and monasteries being built.

In time, a potter’s gild was formed and Ordinances were laid down, that all of the potters that wished to produce Talavera had to follow. This was done so that the quality of the ceramics called Talavera was uniform and that this earthenware had a distinctive style and excellence.

Some of the rules established by the Ordinances were:

The color blue was to be used on the finest ceramic. This was so because the mineral pigments needed to produce this color were very expensive. The customer could then easily distinguish the quality of fine ceramic from one of lesser quality.
To avoid falsifications each master potter had to sign or mark his products.
Three types of earthenware were to be produced depending on the quality of the pieces: Fine, Semi fine, and for Daily use.

The production process of Talavera

July 3, 2015 by admin

The production process of Talavera has remained almost unchanged since colonial times. The process employs two different kinds of clay: white and black, combined in equal parts.

To prepare the clay, the first step is cleaning it, by putting it through a sieve, mixing it and placing in it in sedimentation tubs, until excess water is dried out. This “maturation” process increases the quality and plasticity of the clay.

Next, the clay is “stepped on”, that is, it is kneaded by having someone walk over it to obtain a uniform consistency and humidity. Afterwards, blocks are formed and the clay is stored.

Production can be done in one of two ways: by using the potter’s wheel, or through the use of molds, over which clay plates are placed. Once the pieces are completed, they are stored in unventilated spaces for a long period of time, so they can dry slowly and uniformly.

Afterwards, the pieces go into the kiln for the first time, for a period of about 10 hours.

Then, an enamel made of tin and lead is applied through an immersion process. This layer is the basis for the decoration.

The designs are selected along with the colors, which are prepared with mineral pigments, respecting the traditional colors of the Talavera of Puebla.

Finally, they go into the kiln for a second time. This is where colors obtain their characteristic shine and volume.

Talavera Pottery near Mexico City

July 3, 2015 by admin

The city of Puebla, 80 miles from Mexico City is the largest colonial city in the country, and it is recognized for its magnificent historical center as well as for its centennial production.

In México, conquistadores found a pottery production of excellent quality, which had been developed over several centuries. It had excellent quality. Pottery was used for domestic utensils, but it also played a significant role in religious ceremonies and funerary rites. In addition, clay was used for the creation of extraordinary sculptures.

During colonial times, Spaniards started bringing ceramics from Europe, as well as establishing Spanish potter workshops. Puebla was the main pottery production center not only of the New Spain, but of the New World. In 1550, 20 years after the city was founded, it already had several workshops of glazed pottery and tiles which would later be known as Talavera de Puebla and that, from that time, became the best known type of ceramics in the country and one of the oldest crafts in Mexico.

Its name comes from the place of origin of the first artisans which produced it and from the fact that the techniques used copied those used in the town of Talavera de la Reyna, in Spain.

Nowadays, its production maintains its primitive character, but its decoration has been modified as its Muslim, Chinese and European influence has been combined with local elements that provide its unique and unmistakable characteristics.

From the beginning hose same workshops produced Talavera tiles, a covering that enriched viceroyal architecture, becoming an element of identity of the urban image that lasts to these days.

The use of Talavera tiles started in religious architecture, and was later adopted by civilian architecture. They were applied with both decorative and utilitarian purposes. Over time, they were used in larger and larger surfaces until the XVIII century, when the use of tiles was generalized and, combined with bricks, they covered entire facades. By playing with different shapes and sizes, very original designs were created.

They adorned floors, patios, stairs, fountains, door frames and windows. In churches, they covered altars, domes and frames, and so Puebla became the city where Talavera will find you at every corner.

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Majolica Pottery

May 30, 2015 by admin

Since its introduction by Spanish settlers in the 16th century, talavera pottery has become synonymous with Puebla. The beautifully hand-crafted ceramics, which take the form of everything from garden tiles to dinnerware, adorn building fronts in the historic center, replace china sets in Mexican households, and travel home with visitors as souvenirs. Talavera is so revered that President Calderón ordered a special bicentennial pattern last year for his Independence Day state dinner; Governor Rafael Moreno Valle buys centerpieces to give as personal gifts; and collectors worldwide seek out new and historical pieces to display as fine art.

The local tradition of making talavera started shortly after the city of Puebla was founded in 1531. “The Spanish feverishly began building churches, monasteries, and convents,” notes MexOnline.com. “To decorate these buildings, craftsman from Talavera de la Reina … were commissioned to come to the New World to produce fine tiles as well as other ceramic ware. In addition, these same craftsman were to teach the indigenous artisans their technique of Majolica pottery, in order to increase production levels.”
Nearly 500 years later, artisans continue to produce talavera in Puebla.

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Genuine Talavera Pottery from Puebla

May 27, 2015 by admin

Genuine Talavera Pottery is only made in the Talavera Zone, in and around the city of Puebla, in the State of Puebla, Mexico. The name ‘Talavera’ is applied to a very special type of hand decorated high-fired ceramic product. Produced in Spain around the year 1500 in a town called Talavera de la Reyna and hence its name. The art producing it was influenced by Chinese, Arab, and Italian Ceramics and tiles. The end product was attractive enough for the Spanish monks to introduce is to their recently established colony.

The first workshop, a tile shop, was established in the city of Puebla, in the state of Puebla. Historians believe this to be around the year 1600. The city of Puebla is some 80 miles south east of Mexico City. This first Talavera workshop started producing tiles with a white background and blue designs. Throughout the years the art was improved by adding new patterns, designs, colors, and products such as plates, vases, jars, urns, bowls, etc.

To avoid confusion, the Mexican Government has decreed that the use of the name ‘Talavera’ be protected and limited to a geographical area in and around the city of Puebla. In 1997 the State of Puebla obtained the Denomination of Origin stating that only the pottery produced in the geographical region of the State of Puebla or Zona de Talavera (Talavera Zone), including Atlixco, Cholula, Puebla and Tecali, and that follows the standards set by the Consejo Regulador de la Talavera (Regulating Council of Talavera) can be called ‘Talavera’. In order to be certified these workshops have to pass an inspection and verification process every six months. So, just as Champagne is only produced in Champagne, France, Talavera can only be produced in Puebla, Mexico.

The process starts with the selection of the right two types of clay. These clays are washed, cleaned, kneaded and then allowed to air dry to a consistency that allows molding either by hand, on a potters wheel, or in a mold to form the desired shapes. They are then air dried for several weeks before introducing them to a first firing in a kiln at around 1500 degrees Ferinheight. The next step is to reglaze them. The pottery pieces are then painted and decorated to obtain the desired colors and patterns. The pottery must be hand painted using only the six traditional mineral pigments: blue, green, yellow, red, brown and black. By combining these colors different tones of blue are achieved as well as an orange and purple color.The pigments must be made at the workshop following long-established formulas. Finally the pottery pieces are subjected to a higher firing at around 1900 degrees Ferinheight. Thanks to the diversity and good taste of our Mexican artisans you can now own a unique, beautiful, and original piece of ‘Talavera’ Pottery that can well be considered a collectors piece.

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Authentic Talavera Pottery

April 23, 2015 by admin

Talavera is a type of maiolica earthenware, distinguished by its white base glaze. Authentic Talavera pottery only comes from the city of Puebla and the communities of Atlixco, Cholula and Tecali, as the clays needed and the history of this craft are both centered there. All pieces are hand-thrown on a potter’s wheel and the glazes contain tin and lead, as they have since colonial times. This glaze must craze, be slightly porous and milky-white, but not pure white. There are only six permitted colors: blue, yellow, black, green, orange and mauve, and these colors must be made from natural pigments. The painted designs have a blurred appearance as they fuse slightly into the glaze. The base, the part that touches the table, is not glazed but exposes the terra cotta underneath. An inscription is required on the bottom that contains the following information: the logo of the manufacturer, the initials of the artist and the location of the manufacturer in Puebla.

The design of the pieces is highly regulated by tradition. The paint ends up slightly raised over the base. In the early days, only a cobalt blue was used, as this was the most expensive pigment, making it highly sought after not only for prestige but also because it ensured the quality of the entire piece. Only natural clays are used, rather than chemically treated and dyed clays and the handcrafting process takes three to four months. The process is risky because a piece can break at any point. This makes Talavera three times more costly than other types of pottery. Because of this, Talavera manufacturers have been under pressure from imitations, commonly from China,[8]and similar ceramics from other parts of Mexico, especially Guanajuato. Guanajuato state petitioned the federal government for the right to share the Talavera demonimation with Puebla, but, since 1997, this has been denied and glazed ceramics from other parts of Mexico are called Maiolica or Mayolica.

Today, only pieces made by designated areas and from workshops that have been certified are permitted to call their work “Talavera.”