Talverna Pottery is made exclusively in Puebla region using special approved clay sites. It is recognized and regulated by the Government of Mexico.
Real Talverna pottery has a distinctive bluish hues and often has fluted edges.
The pottery you see in Delores Hidalgo and other market places such as Tonala, while colorful, fun and distinctively Mexican, is pottery.

Authentic Talavera pottery is the ceramic ware produced by certified workshops in the state of Puebla Mexico following the traditional process introduced by the Spaniards in the 16^th Century.

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) 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.

Following are some of the most important guidelines that the Official Mexican Norm for Talavera established:

• Talavera : A type of original ceramic exclusive to the denominated "Talavera Zone" (Atlixco, Cholula, Puebla and Tecali, all in the geographical region of the State of Puebla), whose characteristics are derived from the geographical region and that have their origins in the Spanish majolica.

• The black and white clays used to create Talavera pottery must be obtained from natural deposits in the Talavera Zone.

• The pottery must be hand-formed, hand thrown using clay from the designated region. The clay must be of a consistency that does not allow pouring into molds. Molds can be used only by pressing the clay into them.

• Talavera must contain a tin and lead glaze base following the formula used in Colonial times.

• This glaze must craze and should be slightly porous.

• The glaze base must not be pure white. Its coloring should have undertones that go from Pantone 482C, 467C to 1C light gray.

• 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.

• The painting must fuse into the glazing having a subtle, sort of blurred appearance. The blue and/or yellow details can have a bas-relief look.

• Authentic Talavera has a handmade appearance, meaning it doesn't look "machine made perfect". Irregularities are characteristic and desirable (such as the crazing of the glaze).

Back to Articles

*

What You Should Consider for Your Visit

Road Logs

Books & Maps

Vehicle Insurance

Other Insurance

Learn Spanish Online  

Photos

Articles