Mexican Pottery History

The history of Mexican Pottery can be traced back to the Olmec culture, their uses of clay, knowledge of primitive firing and coloring techniques from Pre-Hispanic cultures are examined.  

Mexico is a country in North America and the largest Spanish- speaking country in the world. There have been earthenware vessels, figures, and various types of utensils found in the archaeological ruins of the ancient Olmec city’s of Tajin, San Lorenzo , La Venta and Tres Zapotes. Human presence in Mexico has been shown to date back 40,000 years according to the ancient human foot prints found in the Valley of Mexico. 

Back in history between 1200 BC and 600 AD pottery had become a central part of Mexican Life. Their uses of clay, knowledge of primitive firing and coloring techniques, as well as designs were passed down to other cultures that followed in history. These techniques produce unique Mexican pottery pieces that are truly works of art and part of Mexico’s history. The Pre-Hispanic cultures of Mexico’s history had skillful native potters that produced earthenware for daily use as well as for religious and cultural purposes. These potters did not use a potter’s wheel or tin glaze their pottery till the Spanish arrived. They used the coil, pinch and scrape methodology for each pots construction.

In the history of Mexican pottery there are three types of pottery found. They have different clay mixtures and the temperatures at which they are baked or fired at are different.

1. Earthenware - fired at a low temperature. Because the temperature is low, the addition of colorful glazes is possible. However, this will result to a pottery piece that easily cracks and chips.

2. Stoneware - made from a heavy clay mixture and fired at higher temperature for harder finish.

 3. Porcelain- A delicate and pure type of pottery. It is composed of kaolin, which is white clay. This is then mixed with feldspar and flint and fired at low temperature.

History tells us that when the Muslims conquered North Africa and move into Europe, their tin-glazed ceramics (Majolica) came with them to Spain. Coming from the Middle East but adding cultural diversity with the Chinese, Italians, Moors and Spanish cultures the Spanish craftsmen learned and further developed this craft and introduced it to Mexico in the 16^th century. The local Mexican artisans blended these new techniques with their established practices to create the famous Talavera pottery of Mexico.

There are many stories of the history of Mexican pottery but most go back to the Spanish Monks in Puebla asking the Spanish craftsmen to teach the Mexican towns people how to produce the pottery wares using the Spanish techniques so they could use the tiles and figures to decorated the churches and monasteries being built.  At this time in Mexican history great churches were being built and decorated with the pottery of Mexico’s history.