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The Talavera pottery has its roots in the Arab-Andalusia culture in Spain. About 8 centuries ago, Arab potters settled in a
location now days known as Talavera de la Reina and established and developed the techniques and procedures to create
the earthenware known as Majolica. Majolica was introduced in Mexico in the 16th Century, when according to the most
accepted theory, Spanish monks used craftsmen imported from Talavera de La Reina to teach native artisans living in the
Puebla region how to work the clay in order to craft pieces comparable to the ones produced in Spain. The monks wanted to decorate monasteries and churches with tiles and religious figures.
The basic process for making Talavera has remained the same since the 16th Century, though there have been changes in the shapes of pottery made and the style of decoration.
Talavera pottery is made with two kinds of clay, a dark clay and a light, slightly rose-colored clay. Both of these clays come from the state of Puebla. These two clays are mixed together, strained and kneaded. Each item is modeled by hand, turned on the wheel or pressed in a mold. The pieces are then left to dry from 50 to 90 days. Once dry, the pieces go through a first firing and then are hand-dipped in a glaze which will form the white background of the design. Then, stencil designs are dusted onto the pieces with charcoal powder. Each piece is hand-painted and then fired for a second time at a higher temperature.
