Founded in 1824, the Uriarte talavera workshop is one of the oldest in Mexico and produces certified pieces of great beauty. This is its story
Recognized in 2019 as a World Heritage Site for its hand-made work and beauty, the talavera that is produced today in Mexico, like the Uriarte talavera, has a long history that includes several continents and many centuries of tradition.
We can trace its origin to the 8th century, when Muslims occupied the Iberian Peninsula for approximately eight centuries, influencing the economy, science, language and the arts. Consequently, the so-called Mudejar art flourished, which included the making of the talavera or glazed slab.
Talavera is already a Cultural Heritage by UNESCO
Later, when the Spanish arrived in America in the 16th century, they established, with the founding of the city of Puebla, pottery workshops that survive to this day, producing decorative and functional objects of great beauty with ancient techniques.
The art of Talavera survives the passage of time
Although Talavera is also produced in Tlaxcala, it was in Puebla where it had its peak. It is known that in the times of New Spain the pottery guild had ordinances that regulated the manufacturing and quality of the products.
Later, after the Independence of Mexico, the production processes survived but due to the increase in demand and mass production, in the 1990s a Talavera Regulatory Council was created to control the quality of the products through an Appellation of origin; which is basically a certificate of quality, since they are made and painted by hand.
The Talavera workshop of Uriarte
As we mentioned previously, the workshop was founded in 1824 by Dimas Uriarte and in the beginning it mainly manufactured plates, glasses and tiles. Then, in 1897, the Catalan artist Enrique Luis Ventosa would arrive in Puebla and the production of talavera, in danger of extinction, would revive.
Years later, Ventosa would join forces with the Uriartes to give new energy to the craftsmanship and with the introduction of electricity at the beginning of the 20th century, the workshop was able to produce more, becoming in 1910 the largest and most renowned workshop in the state.
Likewise, during the first half of the 20th century, Uriarte Talavera was characterized by innovation in its designs, incorporating pre-Columbian, Islamic, Chinese, Italian motifs and even a certain influence of Art Nouveau, fashionable at that time.
Likewise, the workshop would be sold in 1990 to a business consortium and would be the first to obtain the designation of origin in Puebla. Currently, the workshop is located in a 19th century mansion in the Historic Center of Puebla and produces decorative pieces, tableware, tiles and murals; pots and even jewelry.
Finally, it offers customization services for contemporary Talavera pieces and collections created by artists. It also has a store in the country’s capital.
Uriarte Talavera stores
In Puebla: 4 Poniente 911, Centro.
In Mexico City: Galileo 67-A, Polanco.
Source: Mexico Desconocido
