F.A.Q

How to buy?
To help you find your way around our site, our Talavera collection is presented in categories (as seen in the left navigation bar), you can either select a category, use our in-site search engine (also in the left navigation bar) or simply browse around the site, to see our magnificent array of Talavera items:
(Ceramic Bowls) (Serving Plates) (Flowerpots) (Vases) (Mirrors) (Tiles) (Ornaments) (Basins) (Home Decor) (Wine Cups) (KitchenWare) (Crystals)


What is Talavera?
Talavera is a type of majolica earthenware and is the oldest tin-glazed ceramic in America. Today, authentic Talavera pottery is produced only in the region of Puebla and the manufacturing process continues to preserve the techniques, skills and cultural influences attained over the centuries. (Learn more)

Can I place my new Uriarte Talavera pot in the garden?
Yes, Uriarte Talavera items pass strict inspections to insure that all of it's products will maintain their vivid colors and unique shapes.

How can i be sure that my Talavera piece is authentic?
There are few decided rules that can help you distinguish whether your Mexican pottery is a genuine Talavera or a poor imitation:

The clay from which Talavera pottery is manufactured (a mixture of two types of clay, black & white) has to be obtained ONLY from natural deposits in the Talavera area.

All Talavera pots have to be glazed while preserving the traditional glazing formula, the glaze must be crazed and should be slightly porous.

The glaze base mustn't be pure white. It's coloring should have undertones.

All pottery must be hand painted with only six traditional mineral pigments. Combining these colors is the only way to achieve colors that are not: blue, yellow, red, green, brown or black.

The painting must fuse into the glaze. Only the blue and yellow details can have a bas-relief look.
Each Talavera piece has to be signed at the base and the name of the city (Puebla) must be stated.

What is the difference between blue on white and colorful floral pattern? Blue on white first appeared in Mexico in the late 15th Century and were direct influences of Moor and Visigoth people living in Spain While the colorful floral design was influenced from the Orient and were first seen in Mexico around the mid-16th Century.

Can I put my Talavera service in the dishwasher and or oven?
Uriate pottery's minute lead content meets USFDA safety requirements and all dish ware are dishwasher and oven safe.


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Pottery

Types of Pottery
There are three main kinds of pottery: earthenware, stoneware, and porcelain. Raw clay is transformed into a porous pottery when it is heated to a temperature of about 500°C. This pottery, unlike sun-dried clay, retains a permanent shape and does not disintegrate in water. Earthenware is lightly fired, readily absorbs water if not glazed. Stoneware is produced by raising the temperature, is extremely strong and will not absorb water. Porcelain is baked at still greater heat, in this process part of the clay becomes vitrified (glassy) and the strength of the pottery is increased.


Early History
Pottery is one of the most enduring materials known to humankind. In most places it is the oldest and most widespread art; Prehistoric remains of pottery, found in different locations around the globe, have great importance in archaeology and have often supplied a means of dating and establishing an early chronology. Pottery has great historical value as ancient Assyrian and Babylonian writings have been inscribed upon clay tablets. Simple geometric patterns in monochrome, polychrome, or incised work are common to pottery of prehistoric and primitive cultures.


Modern Pottery
American art pottery flourished in the first half of the 20th cent. with works created by a variety of artisans. Many of the major artists of the 20th century created exquisite ceramic works. Especially notable are those by Picasso, Matisse, and Mir?.
In spite of the continuing development of mass-production techniques and synthetic materials, the demand for hand-crafted ware of fine quality has not diminished. A variety of artisans make utilitarian objects as well as works of art using many methods of pottery production.