blue talavera pottery

Working with traditional methods and materials, artisan Isabelle Collins crafts these Talavera-style decorative ceramic tiles. Authentic Talavera pottery, which dates back to the 16th century, comes only from the state of Puebla and must be made according to exacting specifications. The sunny yellow and cobalt blue tiles would make a magnificent backsplash or as decoration for a fireplace mantel.

Mexican artisan Alonso Luis brings the unmistakable beauty of Talavera-style pottery to his handcrafted jewelry. In this pendant necklace, the artisan creates a beautiful butterfly with ceramic wings hand painted snow white with blue accents connected to a sterling silver body. The butterfly hangs from a blue leather cord.

This gorgeous set of 12 square ceramic tiles from Isabelle Collins features cobalt blue motifs on a background of white. The tiles would make a magnificent backsplash or as decoration for a fireplace mantel. The artisan 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.

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.

Vines in green, brown and cobalt blue climb a ceramic ginger jar by Isabelle Collins, who works in the style and technique of classic Talavera pottery. The repetitive motifs reflect the Moorish influence brought from Spain to colonial Mexico. This lidded jar 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 colours, 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.

Artisan Isabelle Collins uses traditional methods and materials to craft these Talavera-style decorative ceramic tiles. Authentic Talavera pottery, which dates back to the 16th century, comes only from the state of Puebla and must be made according to exacting specifications. The beautiful tiles would make a magnificent backsplash or as decoration for a fireplace mantel.

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.