Have you read on the internet only to find a multitude of different things being said about Mexican talavera pottery? Well, we’re here to clear up the confusion and give you the real scoop on talavera!

We’d like to discuss the BIG QUESTION…”What makes authentic talavera versus imitations?” Well, to be “authentic” Mexican Talavera pottery, there is a long list of criteria that must be met. Authentic talavera, certified by the Consejo Regulador de Talavera, must be made using the exact techniques of the 1600s, when talavera production began in Mexico. This is where most of the talavera makers fall off the map to produce genuine talavera pieces. The reason is not that the manufacturers do not want to abide by the regulations dictated by the Regulatory Council of Talavera, but that the original process requires a harmful amount of lead.

In the 1600s, manufacturers had no idea of ​​the harmful effects lead could have on human health. Today, however, many manufacturers are aware that lead can cause harm to human health and have reduced the lead content to levels well below FDA standards, making their products safe to eat. eat and drink, but at the same time understand that they will not be eligible. to become a Certified Talavera Factory. Talavera from a Certified Talavera Store contains harmful amounts of lead and may only be used for decorative purposes. The FDA allows the production of such products under the strict condition that each piece must be marked as not to be used for food. Sometimes you can find “Not for food use” engraved or stamped on a talavera piece. However, other times you may only find a label labeled “Not for Food Use” and this is perfectly acceptable to the FDA. However, what happens when the sticker finally falls off or washes off? Will the next owner of the talavera realize that his health could be in danger if he uses the piece for food? Probably not, unless they do a lot of research to find out where talavera was produced and then they may not even find the answer. He may be saying to himself, “Well, what about those home lead test kits?” Good idea, but little research will reveal that these kits are unreliable and give many false positive and even some false negative results. The only way to be sure is to send your talavera to a materials testing lab and have them test for lead in leachate, which can cost $225 a piece. However, this is very expensive, can permanently damage your talavera, and some labs will not be able to return your talavera to you. While we’re at it, we’d also like to clear up the confusion about “lead-free” Talavera. All Mexican Talavera Ceramics have some amount of lead. However, to be called “lead-free,” the amount of leachable lead must not exceed FDA-approved leachable lead levels. This is how many manufacturers and retailers can claim that their talavera is lead-free.

A second criterion that many manufacturers fail to meet is that authentic Talavera pottery must be made in the state of Puebla, Mexico, from the state’s clays. Talavera is produced throughout Mexico. However, it is up to you to decide how important it is that your talavera is produced where production began and is made from the original clays used since the 15th century.

A third condition is that Mexican talavera pottery must be handmade and cannot be poured into molds. Pouring clay into molds can lead to brittle, low-quality, mass-produced pottery! EXACTLY what you don’t want to spend your hard-earned money on! Authentic talavera can only be shaped by hand on a potter’s wheel or pressed into molds by hand.

Think of Mexico, think of color! The vibrant colors of Talavera pottery are what make it truly Mexican! This brings us to the fourth criterion, which is that only natural mineral pigments can be used to create the intricate colored designs found on every Talavera pottery piece. The basic mineral pigments are blue, white, green, yellow, red, brown, and black. These colors can be combined in a variety of ways to produce shades of orange, purple, and blue that we see in Talavera today. Commercial paints or dyes are not used in the production of authentic talavera pottery.

Now that you know some of the criteria for the production of authentic Mexican talavera, let us help you determine the differences by examining your talavera. All authentic talavera will bear the signature of the artist and the place of production, Puebla, Mexico. Authentic talavera pottery should also have designs with slightly raised edges. The underglaze should also be a light cream color rather than bright white. A bright white background could mean that the Talavera was mass produced. The underglaze will also appear somewhat freckled, porous and will exhibit crazing. Talavera will not look perfect or made by machine. The imperfections in talavera are the result of being handcrafted by an individual and not by a machine, which in turn makes the imperfections truly desirable. No two pieces, even in the same design, will be identical. Each piece of Mexican talavera pottery is unique, making it a beautiful piece of art for you to enjoy in your home! Talavera is more than a beautiful pottery… It is a piece of culture, a tradition and a work of art!