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Art History Virtual Exhibition

Talavera Tile with Yellow Mandala Flower Design Aztec Mestizo culture Early 21st century Ceramic and Glazes, L. 11.2 cm x W. 6 mm x H. 10.7 cm BFPC collection #2017.27

Talavera Pottery: Researched by Shayna MacDonald

October, 2020 by Sarah Teel

Mexican Talavera pottery has a long history that dates back to the early 15th century, soon after the Spanish conquest of Mexico. When the Spanish first conquered the Puebla region, they introduced new pottery techniques from the city of Talavera de la Reina in Spain to this pottery-making area. The Mexican city of Puebla was established in 1531and placed strategically between two major volcanoes, Popocatepetl and Iztaccihuatl, as the slopes of these volcanoes are sources of tin-rich clay, but each with its own properties; the combination of clay from the bases of each volcano creates a very desirable clay body that was appropriate for making this decorative pottery.

Talavera de la Reina pottery was traditionally designed with blue and white glazes that were originated in Asian pottery, but the Spanish motifs typically depicted biblical events and images of saints such as the Virgin Mary.  Spanish artisans taught these techniques and the depiction of these motifs to the indigenous Mexican peoples, as part of the larger Spanish efforts to convert the natives to Christianity.

When the Mexican people claimed their independence from Spain in 1821, Mexican Talavera pottery also changed.  New colors of glaze were introduced in the pottery to accompany the traditional blue and white, including red, yellow, green, black, and orange. Rather than focusing solely on European biblical images, the motifs on the Talavera pottery also expanded to include motifs meaningful to the Mestizo (mixed indigenous and Hispanic) peoples, including native animals, flowers, and traditional geometric designs from ancient Mesoamerican cultures.

Talavera Tile with Red, Blue, and Green Cross Design
Aztec Mestizo culture
Early 21st century
Ceramic and Glazes, L. 10.2 cm x W. 6 mm x H. 10.2 cm
BFPC collection #2017.28

 

Talavera Tile with Yellow, Green, and Red Flower Design
Aztec Mestizo culture
Early 21st century
Ceramic and Glazes, L. 10.2 cm x W. 6 mm x H. 10.2 cm
BFPC collection #2017.25

 

Talavera Tile with Light Blue Heart Design
Aztec Mestizo culture
Early 21st century
Ceramic and Glazes, L. 10.2 cm x W. 6 mm x H. 10.2 cm
BFPC collection #2017.24

 

Talavera Tile with Yellow Mandala Flower Design
Aztec Mestizo culture
Early 21st century
Ceramic and Glazes, L. 11.2 cm x W. 6 mm x H. 10.7 cm
BFPC collection #2017.27

 

Talavera Tile with Blue Gecko Design
Aztec Mestizo culture
Early 21st century
Ceramic and Glazes, L. 10.7 cm x W. 6 mm x H. 10.7 cm
BFPC collection #2017.20

 

 

For more information, you may contact the researcher(s) noted in the title of this exhibit entry, or Dr. Billie Follensbee, the professor of the course, at BillieFollensbee@MissouriState.edu

Filed Under: 2019 Spring, ART 485: Art of Mesoamerica Tagged With: aztec mestizo culture, ceramic, early 21st century, talavera tile

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Categories

  • 2014 Fall, ART/MST 488: Basic Conservation of Art and Artifacts
  • 2014 Spring, ART 485: Art of Mesoamerica
  • 2015 Fall, ART/MST 488: Basic Conservation of Art and Artifacts
  • 2016 Fall, ART 385: Art of the Americas
  • 2016 Spring, ART 386: Art of Africa
  • 2017 Fall, ART/MST 488: Basic Conservation of Art and Artifacts
  • 2017 Spring, ART 485: Art of Mesoamerica
  • 2018 Fall, ART 385: Art of the Americas
  • 2018 Spring, ART 386: Art of Africa
  • 2019 Fall, ART/MST 488: Basic Conservation of Art and Artifacts
  • 2019 Spring, ART 485: Art of Mesoamerica
  • 2020 Spring, ART 386: Art of Africa

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