Talavera
No piece is exactly alike, as they are
made completely by hand.
Paint becomes a refined tactile
element, ending up slightly raised
over the background.
Talavera is a ceramic introduced by the Spaniards in the 16th Century and named after the city -
Talavera de la Reina in Spain. In the first century of the colonial period this ceramic became commonly
produced in Puebla, Mexico, mainly for tiles. What makes this ceramic so particular besides
the craze of the glaze and its distinct porous milky-white background, is the fact that only six colors
are traditionally permitted in its production.
For our pieces we collaborate with Uriarte, the oldest and biggest certified continuously operating
producer in Latin America. Sample pieces undergo sixteen laboratory tests with international
certifications from different laboratories. Only nine workshops have been certified to call their work
Talavera, having therefore in every piece their logo, the initials of the artist and the location.
Uriarte maintains 16th Century methods, keeping the value of Talavera´s tradition alive. The production
begins when black sand from Amozoc and white sand from Tecalli are filtered, washed
and mixed. The piece is then made, drying for several days to be later fired at 800 °C to
1000°C. The initial glazing is applied as background, in a milky white color. After this the object
is painted by hand and a second firing up to 1150 °C is applied to harden the gaze. The relief of
the decoration is elegant and subtly noticeable.
All these materials, textures and colors, represent in a symbolic way the layers of history and the
hours of work invested in the creation of every individual piece.
The richness of the Talavera legacy is exposed in every single
stage of its production, from the natural clays and pigments
used, to the crazing process of the glaze.
