
Talavera - A History Of Mexican Clay Art, Pottery and It's Origins
INTRODUCTION: Since the 16th century, Mexican Craftsmen Mexican Potter using a wheel to shape clay into it's beginning form, these techniques have been passed down for generations by master craftsmen. These techniques produce true works of art, with vibrant colors and delicate details that are trademarks of Talavera. have been producing Talavera pottery Some classic examples of the Talavera art form which has evolved from ancient cultures. Pots, plates, plaque, tiles, hot plates, ornaments, decorations, planters and more can be made in this fashion.. This generations old art form has evolved the production of pottery in Mexico; resulting in the exquisite examples that are available today. True Talavera pottery was once only produced in the city of Puebla, in the state of Puebla, Mexico. However, high-quality, modern Talavera pottery is also available from craftsmen from other Mexican districts such as Dolores Hidalgo and Guanajuato. In order to fully appreciate your Talavera, it's origins should be understood and we hope that the following description helps to create this understanding. ORIGINS: To the Olmecs The Olmec were an ancient Pre-Columbian people living in the tropical lowlands of south-central Mexico, roughly in what are the modern-day states of Veracruz and Tabasco on the Isthmus of Tehuantepec., 1200 BC and 600 AD, pottery was always a central part of life. Having an abundance of clay, a knowledge of primitive firing and coloring techniques, as well as many different designs; The Olmecs are considered by many as the mother culture of Mesoamerican civilizations. Talavera De la Reina A village in Spain, which this style of pottery is named after. The city, Founded in the Celtic period 500 B.C., is settled along the river Tagus (Tajo in Spanish) at a broad bank. There are two islands in the center of the city called Isla Grande (Big Island) and Chamelo Island., has long been influential in the world's knowledge of fine ceramics. After the Muslims conquered North Africa and moved into Europe, their tin-glazed ceramics, known as Majolica, came to Spain. Although Majolica was developed in the Middle East and gained cultural diversity through influences from the Chinese, Italians, Moors and Spanish cultures; Spanish craftsmen learned and further developed this craft. In the 16th century it was introduced to the people of Mexico and the name Talavera was used to represent those faithful reproductions of the ancient pottery that originated in Talavera de la Reina, Spain. When the Spanish arrived at their recently established colony in Mexico, the local artisans were exposed to these new techniques and incorporated them with their established pottery skills to create the now famous Talavera pottery of Mexico. It is believed that the first workshop was established in the city of Puebla around 1600 AD. Puebla Established by the Spanish in 1531 on the main route between the port of Veracruz (the most important port in Mexico) and Mexico City, Puebla was the principal city of colonial Mexico. was not only considered to be the second most important city in Mexico after the country's capital Mexico City, it was also where the first potter's guilds were formed to establish standards and regulations for the production of Talavera. The most accepted explanation as to how the Mexican craftsmen learned to make Talavera, is that Spanish monks from the Santo Domingo Monastery Santo Domingo de Silos Abbey (Spanish: Monasterio de Santo Domingo de Silos) is a Benedictine monastery in the village of Santo Domingo de Silos in the southern part of Burgos Province in northern Spain. The foundation of the monastery dates from 929, when it was dedicated to Saint Sebastian. in Puebla sent for craftsmen from Talavera de la Reina to teach the craftsmen of the region how to work the clay. The Mexican craftsmen did not know how to use the potter's wheel or tin-glaze their pottery which would have been required to make the pieces like the ones produced in Spain. There are documents that record the presence of craftsmen from Talavera de la Reina establishing their workshops, in Puebla during the 16th Century, to produce tiles and ceramic ware. It was a very profitable business since there were so many churches and monasteries being built. Three types of earthenware were to be produced, depending on the quality of the pieces: Fine, Semi fine, and for Daily use. The color blue was to be used on the finest ceramic, because the mineral pigments needed to produce this color were very expensive. The customer could then easily distinguish the fine ceramics from ones of lesser quality. Yearly there were to be examinations that the craftsmen had to pass in order to be considered master potters. In these ways and others the early producers of Talavera ensured that quality and originality remained intact while making these pieces available to everyone. Each region had its own unique style of pottery. However, in all ancient cultures, the potter himself was given a great deal of importance and reverence. The Aztec Aztec is used to refer to certain ethnic groups of central Mexico, particularly those groups who achieved political and military dominance over large parts of Mesoamerica in the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries. summed it up in the following way: "A good potter: he puts great care into his work, he teaches the clay to lie, he speaks with his own heart, he brings life to things, he creates them, he knows everything as if he were a Toltec The word Toltec in Mesoamerican studies has been used in different ways by different scholars to refer to actual populations and polities of pre-Columbian central Mexico or to the mythical ancestors of the Aztec mentioned in their mythical/historical narratives. he makes his hands skillful." Most of the ancient skills employed to make ceramics are still used today. It's curious how these groups were able to preserve their artistic techniques - coil building, open firing, natural pigments and designs - yet they lost almost all of their original language and religion. New forms and new designs have been implemented for typical Mexican artwork and ceramics bringing together the influences of pre-Hispanic, European, Arabic and Oriental cultures. Traditional Mexican handmade certified authentic talavera ceramic pottery products have an individuality and "flavor" that is appreciated for its art, functionality and quality worldwide.

Talavera - A History Of Mexican Clay Art, Pottery and It's Origins

INTRODUCTION:

Since the 16th century, Mexican Craftsmen

Mexican Potter using a wheel to shape clay into it's beginning form, these techniques have been passed down for generations by master craftsmen. These techniques produce true works of art, with vibrant colors and delicate details that are trademarks of Talavera. have been producing Talavera pottery

Some classic examples of the Talavera art form which has evolved from ancient cultures. Pots, plates, plaque, tiles, hot plates, ornaments, decorations, planters and more can be made in this fashion.. This generations old art form has evolved the production of pottery in Mexico; resulting in the exquisite examples that are available today. True Talavera pottery was once only produced in the city of Puebla, in the state of Puebla, Mexico. However, high-quality, modern Talavera pottery is also available from craftsmen from other Mexican districts such as Dolores Hidalgo and Guanajuato. In order to fully appreciate your Talavera, it's origins should be understood and we hope that the following description helps to create this understanding.

ORIGINS:

To the Olmecs

The Olmec were an ancient Pre-Columbian people living in the tropical lowlands of south-central Mexico, roughly in what are the modern-day states of Veracruz and Tabasco on the Isthmus of Tehuantepec., 1200 BC and 600 AD, pottery was always a central part of life. Having an abundance of clay, a knowledge of primitive firing and coloring techniques, as well as many different designs; The Olmecs are considered by many as the mother culture of Mesoamerican civilizations.

Talavera De la Reina

A village in Spain, which this style of pottery is named after. The city, Founded in the Celtic period 500 B.C., is settled along the river Tagus (Tajo in Spanish) at a broad bank. There are two islands in the center of the city called Isla Grande (Big Island) and Chamelo Island., has long been influential in the world's knowledge of fine ceramics. After the Muslims conquered North Africa and moved into Europe, their tin-glazed ceramics, known as Majolica, came to Spain. Although Majolica was developed in the Middle East and gained cultural diversity through influences from the Chinese, Italians, Moors and Spanish cultures; Spanish craftsmen learned and further developed this craft. In the 16th century it was introduced to the people of Mexico and the name Talavera was used to represent those faithful reproductions of the ancient pottery that originated in Talavera de la Reina, Spain.

When the Spanish arrived at their recently established colony in Mexico, the local artisans were exposed to these new techniques and incorporated them with their established pottery skills to create the now famous Talavera pottery of Mexico. It is believed that the first workshop was established in the city of Puebla around 1600 AD. Puebla

Established by the Spanish in 1531 on the main route between the port of Veracruz (the most important port in Mexico) and Mexico City, Puebla was the principal city of colonial Mexico. was not only considered to be the second most important city in Mexico after the country's capital Mexico City, it was also where the first potter's guilds were formed to establish standards and regulations for the production of Talavera.

The most accepted explanation as to how the Mexican craftsmen learned to make Talavera, is that Spanish monks from the Santo Domingo Monastery

Santo Domingo de Silos Abbey (Spanish: Monasterio de Santo Domingo de Silos) is a Benedictine monastery in the village of Santo Domingo de Silos in the southern part of Burgos Province in northern Spain. The foundation of the monastery dates from 929, when it was dedicated to Saint Sebastian. in Puebla sent for craftsmen from Talavera de la Reina to teach the craftsmen of the region how to work the clay. The Mexican craftsmen did not know how to use the potter's wheel or tin-glaze their pottery which would have been required to make the pieces like the ones produced in Spain. There are documents that record the presence of craftsmen from Talavera de la Reina establishing their workshops, in Puebla during the 16th Century, to produce tiles and ceramic ware. It was a very profitable business since there were so many churches and monasteries being built.

Three types of earthenware were to be produced, depending on the quality of the pieces: Fine, Semi fine, and for Daily use. The color blue was to be used on the finest ceramic, because the mineral pigments needed to produce this color were very expensive. The customer could then easily distinguish the fine ceramics from ones of lesser quality. Yearly there were to be examinations that the craftsmen had to pass in order to be considered master potters. In these ways and others the early producers of Talavera ensured that quality and originality remained intact while making these pieces available to everyone.

Each region had its own unique style of pottery. However, in all ancient cultures, the potter himself was given a great deal of importance and reverence. The Aztec

Aztec is used to refer to certain ethnic groups of central Mexico, particularly those groups who achieved political and military dominance over large parts of Mesoamerica in the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries. summed it up in the following way:

"A good potter:
he puts great care into his work,
he teaches the clay to lie,
he speaks with his own heart,
he brings life to things,
he creates them,
he knows everything as if he were a Toltec

The word Toltec in Mesoamerican studies has been used in different ways by different scholars to refer to actual populations and polities of pre-Columbian central Mexico or to the mythical ancestors of the Aztec mentioned in their mythical/historical narratives.
he makes his hands skillful."

Most of the ancient skills employed to make ceramics are still used today. It's curious how these groups were able to preserve their artistic techniques - coil building, open firing, natural pigments and designs - yet they lost almost all of their original language and religion.

New forms and new designs have been implemented for typical Mexican artwork and ceramics bringing together the influences of pre-Hispanic, European, Arabic and Oriental cultures. Traditional Mexican handmade certified authentic talavera ceramic pottery products have an individuality and "flavor" that is appreciated for its art, functionality and quality worldwide.

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INTRODUCTION:

ORIGINS: