H69.303.1

• spanish

Bowl. Description: Talavera bowl; various colors of blue; man on a horse covers the bottom of the bowl. From the History Information Station Object: Ceramic bowl made in the 16th century. History: This pottery is of the type known as majolica, or talavera for the town of Talavera de la Reina in Spain, a major center for pottery production since the 15th century. Much of the early pottery produced in Talavera consisted of vessels that were large or of unusual shape. They were decorated with figures of animals and birds surrounded by foliage, or with human figures such as children at play, hunters, or horsemen, like the one depicted on this oversized bowl. In the 16th century potters from Talavera were sent to New Spain to found the potteries at Puebla de los Angeles. We know that the work of these potters found its way to Alta California, as fragments of a similar bowl were found at Mission San Carlos in Carmel. Museum Purchase This is a basin, in Spanish "lebrillo." Basins were used as a baptismal fonts or for washing. At the center is an image of Santiago, Saint James, also called Santiago Matamoros, the patron saint of battles. This isTalavera style, made in Puebla, Mexico. It shows the influence that Chinese Wasnli porcelain had in the production of Talavera ceramic in Mexico. (S. Macarron, 6/05)

Used: washing | Baptism | Church