César Torres Ramírez is a Mexican potter who specializes in the Talavera pottery tradition. In his workshop in Puebla, Torres Ramírez continues the Talavera pottery tradition, which was brought over from Spain and reinterpreted in the city of Puebla.         

Although there have been some recent innovations, most pieces are still made as they were in the 16th century. The artisan remains faithful to the original forms and decorative designs, best known for his reproduction of antique pieces such as sets of dishes, round and square platters, boxes, frit dishes, candelabras and large lidded jars called tibores.

He works with white and black clays from the nearby Loreto and Guadalupe hills, using the techniques he was taught by his grandfather. Pieces are made by molding and/or with a potter’s wheel. After the pieces take shape, they are left to day in a windowless room for up to a month. Then they spend some time in the sun before they are fired for the first time using modern gas kilns. These pieces are then bathed in a white background glaze of tin and lead. When this is dry, traditional designs in traditional colors (blue, yellow, red, green, black and white) are painted on top. The colors are painted one with paint brushes of different widths, preferably ones from Japan. When this is dry, the pieces are fired a second time.

César’s work has been featured in several books including “The Great Masters of Mexican Folk Art”, and “Great Masters of Latin American Folk Art”, landmark books published by Banamex Fomento Cultural.

Calle Lirios 6117 B

Colónia Las Bugambilias

Puebla, Puebla

222 245 5602

talaveract@hotmail.com