Making the Talavera Pottery

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Geo: 19.0468, -98.2092

On Wednesday, the ladies who were here with their husbands were invited to spend part of the day at a Talavera pottery shop and learn about the history, see the pottery getting made and then finally be able to paint the pottery. Check out the Website: Amando Pottery

We all gathered in the lobby in the hotel and left by huge van to the other side of town. It probably took us 45 minutes to navigate through the crowded, small and narrow streets to the warehouse.

We were met at the door of Fabrica de Talavera Armando. We were shown the minerals used to made the colors used to decorate the talavera. There is only one machine used here, to tumble and pulverize the minerals. It is a very simple machine. Everything else is done by
hand.

During the tour we learned about the requirements of authentic talavera. Including the limited number of colors that can be used. We saw the clay drying. We met one of the artist/workers. He was adding the glaze to plates. We moved on to see the kiln. The kiln was open so we could see the inside. There were 4 artists inside the painting area and our guide explained the process.

The tour ended back in the shop. There were some nice full dinner services on display. It is bigger than a saucer but smaller than a dinner plate. and we were shown the minerals used to made the colors used to decorate the talavera. There is only one machine used here, to tumble and pulverize the minerals. It is a very simple machine. Everything else is done by
hand.

During the pottery factory tour, we saw the process. We heard how the Mexican men would sift the sand to get all the pebbles out, then row the "dough" out like a pie crust, then fire it up, then let it dry, then mold the clay. I was reminded of the Bible verse "I am the potter and you are the clay" then watch 4 Mexicans paint by hand the pottery and then see where they fire it again. It was quite a process.

After the tour of the ware house we had a tour of a museum. It was very interesting.

We ended up in the patio, where small clay pots had been laid out, with 5 small containers of paint (blue, light blue, orange, yellow and green), plus 2 water vases.

We got to paint our own Talavera bowl. I felt like I was in VBS class. It was fun. I sat with Jan Edwards and Marcy. They are perfectionists. I said, "Whatever!" We'll get them back fired and finished on Saturday. It was a challenge to paint since the small table were were situated on kept rocking. Ugh.

Afterwards, we walked down the block to the market. I was looking for a souvenir spoon that said Puebla. Instead, I got a miniature Chinese spoon that had the words "Puebla" on it. I helped Jan with some buying.

After shopping for an hour, we loaded into the van and drove to El Balcon Restaurant for lunch. This restaurant is owned by Christians who were led to the Lord by the Hower family many, many years ago. I ordered a Tostada de Pollo. It was very good.

We returned back to the hotel late in the afternoon. We didn't eat lunch until 2pm. I'm not used to eating this late.

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