Growing up in Los Angeles with our rich heritage of Mexican culture and colorful art, it’s no surprise the bright colors and patterns of Talavera pottery caught my attention at an early age. The history of this durable and beautiful pottery goes back to the 16th century. To this day, Talavera pottery manufacturing is highly regulated and certified. There are many makers of similarly styled items that are bright and colorful but do not meet the strict designations of true Talavera pottery. This high standard of quality and specificity makes authentic Talavera pottery highly collectible.
The vintage picks of the week are brought to you by Pam of Vintage Renude.
Mexican Pottery Charger
What Makes this Special: From the 1950s, this piece features swallows and blackbirds as well as the authenticated signature and markings of Puebla, Mexico.
How I Would Use This: This gorgeous charger would be displayed prominently on a shelf where I could view it regularly. Perhaps taken down and used on special occasions.
Poblana Tall Bowl
What’s Fascinating about this: This piece is a true antique originally owned by the daughter of the Metropolitan Museum’s first President. The blue on off-white is indicative of the very old original coloring of Talavera pottery.
How I Would Use It: Could I afford this antiquity, it would be set atop a table prominently placed encased in glass and highly insured!
Talavera Lidded Bowl
What I like About This: This piece has the bright colors that I associate with modern Talavera pottery and would make a great catch-all or candy dish set on a table.
How I would Use It: Filled with hard candies or mints and set out for friends and family to graze from, this would fit right in with my colorful decor.
So there you have it! My three vintage picks of the week. If you would like to learn more about Talavera pottery, Talavera.com has articles on the history of Talavera, how to spot imitations, and more. Also, check out this article on Wikipedia or this description from Robert Simon Fine Art.
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1 comment
I too am a big fan of Talavera pottery, Pam and you found three great examples to highlight. No wonder the Poblano bowl was enshrined in the Metropolitan Museum’s collection!!! What an incredible work of art that is.