Are you looking to decorate your home with unique and vibrant showpieces? Vintage Mexican pottery is a fantastic and affordable way to instantly add a rustic and colorful touch to any room in the home. Read our guide for more facts & information…
Mexican pottery has a long and proud history that dates back centuries, and has long been prized for its traditionally high quality clay and beautiful finishes. Mexican pottery is generally considered to be vintage if it is anywhere between 25 and 75 years old. Typically, there are three standard finishes that have their own unique characteristics, and these include glazed, burnished and painted finishes.
Glazed, Burnished and Painted
The finish usually reflects what the pottery will be used for. Pieces that are glazed are often used for vases, bowls and plates, where a seal is needed on the surface. Burnished pieces are fired differently to glazed pieces, and already have a beautiful sheen on the surface. This type of finish is often used for ornaments for its visual appeal. Painted pieces are simply stunning, and differ from region to region. They are often characterized by patterns or pictures crafted in relief on the clay itself, and can range from subdued, elegant painted adornments to full on eye-popping primary colors with elaborate themes.
Region specific vintage pottery
Traditionally, each village or town had their own unique style of pottery that incorporated the natural clays of the area, as well as the original styles of craftsmanship displayed by the village potter. Some styles of pottery are still very highly sought after even today, and their beautiful designs and handcrafted finishes are startlingly distinct. The more famous regions include Puebla (where Talavera pottery is made), Oaxaca, Mata Ortiz, Jalisco, Guanajuato and Chihuahua. Their clay bases range vastly in color from deepest black polish to earthy rustic browns and right through to chalky whites. Hand painted finishes and glazes also have their own look, color choices and styles that are trademarks of each region, from subdued and simple markings to vastly intricate and garishly vivid geometric patterns. Pottery pieces from these regions are often marked with the potter’s name and location as a way to authenticate the pottery, and prove that it is genuine.
Versatility
All vintage Mexican pottery matches perfectly with Mexican furniture, with its rustic feel of bare wood. Mexican pottery is also extremely versatile when it comes to uses in the home. The imagination is the limit when it comes to how it can adorn your home, and as each piece is distinctively original, it makes a beautifully exclusive accent in any room. Some applications for vintage Mexican pottery can include but are not limited to:
- Wall decoration
- Pots
Figurines - Plates and bowls
- Tiles
- Jars and Vases
- Instruments
- Sinks
- Sculptures
- Garden and home ornaments
- Jewelry
- Ashtrays
