Recently I was in Puebla, Mexico, staying right in the historic center of town and one of the highlights was touring Uriarte Talavera.
Founded in 1531, Puebla quickly became the center of talavera production for all of the Americas.
Uriarte
Talavera is the oldest, largest and most prestigious manufacturer of
fine Talavera pottery in all of Mexico, and was founded by Don Dimas
Uriarte in 1824. Talavera is named after the Spanish town, Talavera de la Reina. Talavera is reference to the process which is very involved.
Two different kinds of clay native to the region is ground and mixed. Then molded into cubes, covered in plastic and let to rest. Then the clay is kneaded before being thrown on the potters wheel.
It is then molded on a potter's wheel.
The pieces are then left to dry for up to 12 weeks before the first firing at 1000C. The orange colored piece that comes out of the kiln is called jahuette.
Each piece is dipped into this glaze and set to dry. A design is later stenciled on the jahuete using templates of a variety of designs (indigenous, Spanish, Moorish and Far Eastern motifs). Then the pieces are painted with natural dyes. The azulejo-blue designs more indicative to Puebla.
The piece goes into the kiln for a second firing. By tapping the finished product, an expert knows by the sound that is has successfully been fired.
Each piece is signed and dated.
And given its own numbered code.
The beautiful tile on the stairwell that leads you up the second floor where you will find more handsome, contemporary pieces
such as this plate by Gilbert Aceves
and these striking vases by German Montales.
In another room are antique pieces in their collection. This is titled, Mayas, by Enrique Ventosa. He arrived in Puebla in 1897 and was enamored by the city's architecture, particularly the Talavera tiles that adorned the buildings. He was befriended by a nationalistic group of artist and businessmen, Dimas Uriate being one of them. He brought new energy to the industry, especially when he blended the old designs with Art Nouveau that was so fashionable in Europe at the time.
Here you can see the heavy influence of Art Nouveau.
And lucky me, Len bought me this beautiful plate as an anniversary gift. Just gorgeous.
