Have you read all over the internet just to find a multitude of different things being said about Mexican talavera pottery? Well, we are here to clear up the confusion and give you the real scoop on talavera!
We would like to discuss the BIG QUESTION..."What makes talavera authentic versus imitations?" Well, in order to be "authentic" Mexican talavera pottery there is a long list of criterion that must be met. Authentic talavera, certified by the Talavera Regulating Council, must be made using the exact techniques from the 1600s when the production of talavera first began in Mexico. This is where most talavera manufacturers fall off the map for producing genuine pieces of talavera. The reason isn't that the manufacturers don't want to abide by the rules set forth by the Talavera Regulating Council, but the fact that the original process requires a harmful amount of lead.
In the 1600s, the manufacturers were clueless about the harmful effects that lead could produce to human health. However, nowadays 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 and drink from, but at the same time understanding that they won't be eligible to become a Certified Talavera Fabrica. Talavera from a Certified Talavera Shop contains harmful amounts of lead and can only be used for decorative purposes. The FDA permits the production of such products under the strict condition that it must be stated on each piece that it is not to be used for food. Sometimes you can find "Not for Food Use" engraved or stamped onto a piece a talavera. Though, other times you may only find a sticker labeled "Not for Food Use" and this is perfectly acceptable by the FDA. However, what happens when the sticker finally falls off or gets washed off? Will the next owner of the talavera be aware that their health could be in danger if they use the piece for food? Probably not, unless they do a ton of research to find out where the talavera was produced and then, they may not even find their answer. You may be saying to yourself, "Well, what about those home lead tests kits?" Good idea, but little research will reveal that these kits are not reliable giving many false positive results and even a few false negative results. The only way to know for sure is to send your talavera to a materials testing lab and have them run a leachate lead analysis on it which can cost $225 per piece. However, this is very costly, can permanently damage your talavera, and some labs won't be able to return your talavera to you. While we are at it, we would also like to clear up the confusion about "lead-free" Talavera. All Mexican Talavera Pottery has some amount of lead. However, to be called "lead-free" the amount of leachable lead must not exceed the FDA approved levels of leachable lead. This is how many manufacturers and retailers are able to state that their talavera is lead-free.
A second criterion that many manufacturers fall short of is that authentic talavera pottery must be made in the state of Puebla, Mexico from the clays of the state. Talavera is produced throughout Mexico. However, it's up to you to decide how important it is for your talavera to be produced where the production began and made from the original clays used since the 15th century.
A third condition is that mexican talavera pottery must be hand-formed and cannot be poured into molds. Pouring clay into molds can produce brittle, low-quality, and mass-produced pottery! EXACTLY what you don't want to spend your hard earned money on! Authentic talavera can only be hand-formed on a potter's wheel or hand-pressed into molds.
Think Mexico, think color! The vibrant colors of talavera pottery are what make it truly Mexican! This leads us to the fourth criterion which is that only natural mineral pigments can be used to create the intricate colored designs found on every piece of talavera pottery. 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 tones of orange, purple, and blue that we see in talavera today. Commercial paints or stains 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 bear designs with slightly raised borders. The glazed background should also be a light cream instead of bright-white. A bright-white background could mean that the Talavera was mass-produced. The glazed background will also appear somewhat freckled, porous, and exhibit crazing. Talavera will not appear perfect or made by a machine. Imperfections in talavera are the result of being hand-made by an individual and not a machine which in turn makes imperfections actually desirable. No two pieces, even in the same design, will be identical. Each piece of Mexican talavera pottery is unique, making it a beautiful work of art for you to enjoy in your home! Talavera is more than just pretty pottery... It's a piece of culture, a tradition, and a work of art!
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