page_title: Handcrafts and folk art in Puebla
section_title: Pottery
hierarchical_section_title: Handcrafts and folk art in Puebla / Pottery
caption_attribution_description: English: 19th century vase at the Franz Mayer Museum in Mexico City
context_page_description: Puebla handcrafts and folk art is handcraft and folk art from the Mexican state of Puebla. The best-known craft of Puebla is Talavera pottery—which is the only mayolica style pottery continuously produced in Mexico since it was introduced in the early colonial period. Other notable handcraft traditions include trees of life from Izúcar de Matamoros and amate paper made by the very small town of San Pablito in the north of the state. The state also makes glass, Christmas tree ornaments, indigenous textiles, monumental clocks, baskets, and apple cider.
context_section_description: Glazed, double-fired pottery called mayolica was introduce to Mexico from Spain between 1550 and 1585, and was produced in various areas during the colonial period. However, only in Puebla has it been made continuously to the present.
  The best known pottery of this type is called Talavera, named after the white background ceramics of Talavera de la Reina, Spain, which it sought to imitate. Like its namesake, Puebla Talavera is characterized by a white background, achieved with tin salts, and mostly blue decorative features using cobalt salts. It has been used to make vases, china, sculpted figures, and tiles. White with blue only as decoration is the most traditional but there are other colors that are accepted as well. The blue decoration of Puebla Talavera is both from east and west. Glazed ceramic was invented in Asia and came to Mexico via Europe, specifically Spain. However, there is also direct Asian influence on the work because of the Oriental goods that came to the country on the Manila Galleon.  The use of talavera and other tiles also distinguishes Puebla architecture, being found on facades of major buildings all over the state.
  A number of other communities have lesser-known pottery traditions. The best known of these is that of Izúcar de Matamoros, whose main product are a traditional sculpted work called a tree of life. These are distinctly decorated from the better-known trees of Metepec, State of Mexico. The best known artisan of this tradition is Alfonso Castillo Orta, who won the National Prize of Arts and Sciences in folk art in 1996. The family continues to make the trees and other figures such as those of La Catrina, those for nativity scenes, Frida Kahlo, and more. The Castillo family’s work has garnered awards both in Mexico and abroad, and are found in noted collections such as that of the royal family of Spain.
  Common pottery item include large pots and casseroles used for cooking traditional dishes such as rice and mole poblano. These pieces are glazed on the interior, with the outside decorated with black and or pastillaje (small bits of clay rolled into designs). Most of the pottery is made in the city of Puebla, especially in the Barrio de la Luz neighborhood. This kind of pottery-making remains a viable occupation because of the creativity and organization of the artisans who work principally to make large size cooking utensils. Production can be highly specialized among artisans, with those dedicated to different aspects of the process such as molding and firing. The making of these utensils survives because traditional rural cooking techniques still survive in many parts of the state, where meals are prepared in clay pots over wood fires, especially for major festivities and celebrations.
  These are also made in the town of Amozoc de Mota, to the east of the city of Puebla, where being a member of an artisan family still carries some prestige. The town makes two kinds of pottery, kitchen utensils, and pots—and two kinds of decorative animal and human figures: those used in sets such as for nativity scenes, and miniature skulls. Much of the kitchenware is large pots and casseroles for preparing mole poblano—and sometimes also used for adobo, pipian, or tinga. Other are for making rice or bean dishes. Pots include those for making atole and other hot beverages, and for making traditional piñatas. The work is divided by sex and age in artisan families, usually directed by a male. Families make the greenware and sell the pieces to those who fire them, who in turn sell them to middlemen. Most are sold locally and in the central eastern region of Mexico where Puebla is located.
  Both the Barrio de la Luz and Amozoc communities also make ritual items such as incense burners, candle holders, and containers—which are generally covered in a black glaze and most often used for Day of the Dead decoration.
  Acatlán traditionally makes unglazed clay toys. However, the work of pottery Herón Martínez in the 20th century has promoted the creation of larger sculpted pieces.
caption: 19th century Talavera piece on display at the Franz Mayer Museum in Mexico City
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