blue talavera pottery

Perfect for serving up your favorite refreshments, this coffee pot from Mexico is a marvelous design by Sergio Ponce. Inspired by Talavera pottery, he hand-paints a gorgeous floral scene in blue and yellow hues on the exterior of the pot and lid, making it an enchanting addition to your kitchen.

Perfect for a serene morning of warm drinks, these mugs from Mexico are a marvelous design by Sergio Ponce. Inspired by Talavera pottery, he hand-paints a gorgeous floral scene in blue and yellow hues on the pieces' exteriors, making them an enchanting addition to your days and a glorious homage to the region's traditions.

The swallow motif has long been popular in authentic Talavera pottery and is usually depicted in cobalt blue, popular in the 16th and 17th centuries. However this bird seems to suggest the quetzal found in the cloud forests of Oaxaca, a state that borders Puebla. Isabelle Collins works in the style and technique of classic Talavera ceramics to create a beautiful ginger jar. This lidded vase is known in Mexico as a tibor; it was brought to Mexico from the Orient by way of the Philippines in the late 1500s.

"We use the same techniques and styles used in 16th-century Puebla. Classic Talavera used only six colors, all of which were natural glazes compounded at home with mineral pigments. We create our homemade paintbrushes using mule hair or horsehair from the mane or tail, according to the thickness desired for our motifs," the artisan confides.

Sunflowers are dazzling against the blue sky of El Salvador. Painted by hand, the beautiful motifs adorn a set of ceramic dessert plates. Priscilla Urias de Benedetti recreates the allure of New Spain's traditional Talavera pottery.

This beautiful set of 12 square ceramic tiles features a yellow sunflower motif framed by flourishes in cobalt. The cheerful tiles would make a magnificent backsplash or as decoration for a fireplace mantel. Isabelle Collins works in the style and technique of classic Talavera pottery, using color schemes that date back to the 1500s. "We use the same techniques and styles used in 16th-century Puebla. Classic Talavera used only six colors, all of which were natural glazes compounded at home with mineral pigments. We create our homemade paintbrushes using mule hair or horsehair from the mane or tail, according to the thickness desired for our motifs," the artisan explains.