What is the origin of the Talavera pottery technique?
Talavera from Puebla.
The talavera is one of the most distinguished handcrafts in Mexico, due to its delicate manufacture; It is a type of common earthenware with metallic enamel (Mayólica) created in Puebla and Tlaxcala. The quality of its clays and the tradition of its manufacture date back to the 16th century. The main colors of the Talaveras are:
- Blue.
- Yellow.
- Black.
- Green.
- Orange.
- Mauve.
In addition, each piece of Talavera is created by hand of Mexican artisans, and the glaze contains tin and lead, following the same manufacturing techniques since the Spanish vice-royal era.
The origin of the Talavera.
The talavera originates from Baghdad, Iraq in the 9th century. The Arabs with the purpose of emulating the ceramics created in China, discover this ingenious technique to create handcrafts with clay.
During the Moorish invasion of Spain, the Arabs transported this type of technique to Spain that the Spaniards themselves would later take to Mexico during the conquest in the 16th century.
In the middle of the sixteenth century with the Conquest of Mexico, the production of tin ceramics began, its motifs and colors already reflected the rich Spanish heritage, which would be embellished in the hands of Mexican artisans with much freer brushstrokes and more vibrant colors, their interpretations highly distinctive.
Talaveras: An Intangible Heritage of Humanity.
UNESCO declared Talaveras as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2020: “The manufacturing, decoration and enamelling procedures of this type of ceramic continue to be handcrafted and identical to those practiced in the 16th century.”
The authentic talaveras have a designation of origin and come from Puebla and Tlaxcala, due to the quality of the clays from these places and the tradition of their manufacture, which dates back to the 16th century.
Where to buy Talaveras in Cozumel?
If you visit the beautiful Island of Cozumel in Mexico, don’t forget to stop by Cinco Soles to purchase 100% handmade crafts and Talaveras to decorate your home with a piece of Mexico.