Galleria Elegante – Specializing in Online Retail of Mexican Talavera, Mata Ortiz Pottery
Quality artisan craftsmanship in Mexican pottery can be elusive. High-yield factory-made objects are appreciable, but cannot compare to the artistic pieces that are produced in smaller quantities by trained and talented artists. The fine quality of some functional and decorative pots, vases, urns and platters reflect the skills and gifts of the artist who made them, most often using techniques that respect the traditional methods used in production. Two exceptional examples of pottery that pay tribute to traditional practices are Mexican talavera pottery and Mata Ortiz Pottery.
Collectors of true Mexican talavera pottery will attest to the value of its craftsmanship. Thought to have originated in ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, Mexican talavera pottery is made through a process similar to that of Majolica in the Mediterranean. A generally accepted theory of how the craft was transported to the New World suggests that Spanish monks from Puebla, Mexico requested that pottery makers from Talavera de la Reina, Spain be sent to Mexico to introduce the craft to the people of the region. The skills and techniques to manufacture Mexican talavera pottery eventually became standardized, so that all pieces produced could be trusted as fine, uniform quality functional and decorative art. Today, the craft continues to be practiced using these same high standards by official guilds, or “fabricas”, in Mexico. Mexican talavera pottery is made by combining and soaking two types of clay, then draining and filtering it of its impurities. Using a potter’s wheel or molds, artists create their pieces, dry them for eight weeks, and fire them at high-temperatures. Pieces are then dipped in glaze and hand decorated which, when fired a final time, produces creations of very rich color. Each fabrica, fourteen of which exist today in Mexico, mark each of their pieces with their names and registry numbers to certify their origin.
The origins of Mata Ortiz pottery makes a curious story. A man named Juan Quezada from the town of Mata Ortiz, Mexico, studied the pottery shards he discovered at Casas Grandes, the site of an ancient city. Through trial and error, he taught himself the technique of pottery-making that enabled him to mimic the pottery of the ancient culture. As his skills became further refined and his work more exquisite, demand increased and a new form of artwork appeared on the global market.
Today, some retailers are able to offer authentic certified Mexican talavera and Mata Ortiz pottery to art lovers. Galleria Elegante is an online retailer who specializes in sourcing, selling and carefully shipping pottery in North America. They proudly offer work from Uriarte Talavera, a fabrica founded in 1824, known as one of the best fabricas in the country. Collectors of Mexican fine art are able to decorate their homes with platters, urns, plates, canisters, jars, vases, tiles, salad bowls and serving dishes that would otherwise only be found locally in Mexico or in museums further North.
For more information, visit www.GalleriaElegante.com
About the Author
Galleria Elegante is a leading dealer of traditional and modern pottery. For more information, visit www.GalleriaElegante.com
|
|
Reco Romertopf No.111 4-6-Pound Clay Baker $36.00 Baking bread in a natural unglazed clay baker is undoubtedly one the best ways to get fantastic results at home. Your bread can easily rival some of the best breads available anywhere. The Romertopf natural clay stoneware baking dish and lid will simulate a hearth oven in your kitchen. The moist dough within the cloche creates the steam needed to produce a delicious bread with a crackly, golden … |
|
|
Fiesta 16-Piece Dinnerware Set, Service for 4 Fiesta 16-piece Service for 4 Dinnerware Set. Homer Laughlin China Company is the world’s largest American-made restaurant dinnerware manufacturer. All of our products are restaurant grade. Fiesta is all oven, microwave, and dishwasher safe, and the vitrification process makes our dishes chip resistant. This durable dinnerware stands up to everyday wear and tear beautifully. This gorgeous p… |
|
|
Godinger Ceramic Double Warmer Chafing Dish with Serving Stand $27.99 Keep your side dishes warm in this elegant white ceramic covered double pagoda food warmer by Godinger. Pegoda includes two 1-quart of foodbakers, tarnish resistant chrome caddy & includes 2 tealights for keeping food warm. Coordinating tableware also available on-line…. |
|
|
Ceramic Water Crock Dispenser – Classic Plain $23.23 … |
|
|
Homax 5250 Household Lead Test Kit $9.99 Homax Corp. 5250 – 2Pk Lead Testing Kit, Lead check test swabs detect lead on any surface within 1 minute. To use the test swab just squeeze the test swab firmly at the 2 points indicated, shake and then continue to squeeze until yellow liquid appears on… |
|
|
Laurey 8702 Cabinet Hardware 1-1/4 Ceramic Knob with Painted Design $1.89 1-3/8″, Hand Painted, Porcelain Design Cabinet Knob…. |
|
|
Mexican Pottery Clay, Self-Hardening, Red Color, 5 lbs. … |
|
|
AMACO Mexican Self-Hardening Clay, 5-Pound, Red $8.49 This red clay hardens on its own. 5 pounds…. |
|
|
Amaco Mexican Clay 25lb $29.95 When completely dry, finished pieces are durable but not waterproof. Knead Mexican Pottery ClayTM to increase plasticity before modeling. Keep unused clay in a plastic bag or wrapped in damp cloth to prevent drying out. When completely dry, finished pieces are durable but not waterproof. Knead Mexican Pottery ClayTM to increase plasticity before modeling. Keep unused clay in a plastic bag or wrap… |
|
|
Photo Jigsaw Puzzle of PUEBLO POTTER, c1905. Female potter of the Santa Clara pueblo in New Mexico from Granger Art on Demand $24.99 Photo Puzzle, PUEBLO POTTER, c1905. Female potter of the Santa Clara pueblo in New Mexico. PUEBLO POTTER, c1905. Female potter of the Santa Clara pueblo in New Mexico. Photograph by Edward Curtis, c1905. Chosen by Granger Art on Demand. 10×14 Photo Puzzle with 252 pieces. Packed in black cardboard box of dimensions 5 5/8 x 7 5/8 x 1 1/5. Puzzle image 5×7 affixed to box top. Puzzle pieces printed o… |
|
|
Oblong Pottery Platter $111 - Hand thrown pottery |
|
|
South Fork Pottery with Iron Bases, Set of 3 $362 -Hand forged iron pottery – Largest pottery is 15″W |
|
|
Adult Mexican Sombrero – Mexican Costume Accessories $14.81 Adult Spanish Sombrero – Mexican Sombrero |
Pingback: Tile Sales