Uriarte Talavera facts for kids
Uriarte Talavera is a famous workshop in Puebla, Mexico. It has been making beautiful Talavera pottery since 1824. Talavera is a special type of pottery known for its bright colors and detailed designs.
The workshop started as a family business by Dimas Uriarte. Today, it is run by a business group. Even so, Uriarte Talavera still uses the same traditional methods from the 16th century to create its pottery. Many pieces have classic colors and designs. They can even get special certificates from the Mexican government to prove they are real Talavera.
Uriarte Talavera has also tried new designs and shapes since the early 1900s. They have worked with many artists to make modern and artistic pieces.
Contents
The Story of Uriarte Talavera
Uriarte is one of the oldest places making Talavera pottery in Mexico. Talavera is a type of majolica. This pottery style came from Talavera de la Reina in Spain. It was brought to Mexico after the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire.
Majolica was made in many parts of Mexico. But it became very special in the Puebla area, especially from 1650 to 1750. Talavera from Puebla is unique because of the fine clays found there. It is fired with a tin and lead glaze at high temperatures. This glaze is usually off-white or slightly yellow.
The decorations on Talavera pottery use only certain colors. These are black, cobalt blue, light blue, yellow, green, red, and sometimes deep rose. The designs blend slightly with the glaze. Real Talavera is still made by hand using the same methods from the 16th century.
Reviving the Craft
By the early 1900s, the art of making Talavera was fading. But after the Mexican Revolution, there was a need for tiles. Also, people who collected art became interested in Talavera. Big collections were started in famous museums like the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. In Mexico, a German collector named Franz Mayer also started a large collection. In 1986, he opened his own museum, the Franz Mayer Museum. It has the world's largest collection of Talavera.
The Uriarte workshop began in 1824. The Uriarte family bought a place called La Guadalupana. Dimas Uriarte was the first owner. The workshop stayed in the family until the late 1800s. Back then, they mostly made plates, cups, and some tiles.
In 1897, an artist from Spain, Enrique Luis Ventosa, came to Puebla. At this time, the Talavera craft was almost gone. Uriarte was one of only six workshops left in Puebla. Ventosa worked with Uriarte and other workshops to bring the craft back to life. By 1907, their efforts were successful. In 1910, Uriarte added electricity to the workshop. This helped them make more pottery and grow. It became the biggest and most famous workshop in Puebla.
New Artistic Ideas
Starting in 1922, Ventosa worked with Ysauro Uriarte Martinez. Ysauro had just taken over Dimas's workshop. Ventosa focused on decorating the pottery, while Ysauro shaped the pieces. Both men signed their work with special initials.
They worked together to make everyday items better quality. They also created unique ceramic art. They added designs inspired by ancient Mexican art. These joined the existing influences from Islamic, Chinese, and Italian art. There was even a touch of Art Nouveau style. They also tried new things, like bringing back a shiny, metallic glaze and firing colors at different temperatures.
By 1923, Uriarte was one of only four workshops that survived the Mexican Revolution. The family continued to run the workshop until the early 1990s. Then, a group of business people bought it. In 1994, the business started opening new stores in places like Cancún and San Diego. Around this time, Uriarte was also one of the first workshops to get a government certificate. This certificate proves their Talavera is authentic.
How Uriarte Talavera is Made
Uriarte makes about 20,000 pieces of pottery each month. About half of these are sent to other countries. These include the United States, France, Italy, Egypt, Australia, and Chile.
They still use the same methods from the 16th century. Their designs and processes are special. No two pieces are exactly alike because they are made completely by hand. The whole process can take up to three months. About half of the cost of each piece comes from the labor involved. Each piece has a serial number. Most pieces are signed by the artisan who made them.
The workshop has worked with famous artists. These include José Luis Cuevas, Jan Hendrix, and Manuel Felguérez. Together, they created new designs. These designs are part of a collection called “Contemporary Talavera.” It features the work of 57 artists who designed 130 pieces. Examples of these works have been shown in museums in Mexico, the United States, and Canada.
Uriarte in Museums
You can see pieces from the Uriarte workshop in permanent collections. These include the Museo José Bello y Gonzalez in Puebla and the Franz Mayer Museum in Mexico City.
In 2012, the workshop and the Franz Mayer Museum held a special exhibition. It was called "El cinco de mayo de 1862. Uriarte Talavera Contemporánea." This project involved many artists and the workshop's artisans. They created 64 pottery pieces and eleven murals. These works were all about the Battle of Puebla. The exhibition celebrated the battle's 150th anniversary. Artists like Luis Argudín, Feliciano Béjar, and Pedro Friedeberg took part. The exhibition was shown in Mexico, the United States, and Canada.
See also
In Spanish: Uriarte Talavera para niños
- List of Mexican artisans
