In 2019, UNESCO inscribed talavera , a type of ornate pottery to the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity .
This type of pottery was introduced to Mexico by the Spanish colonizers , who learned from the Arabs in the 14th century. However, Arabs started making ceramics in Iran , Irak , and Syria in the 9th century .
![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/sqcHlqYxs0E/hqdefault.jpg)
![UNESCO declares talavera as part of the world’s cultural heritage](https://www.eluniversal.com.mx/resizer/v2/PLMOWKCYM5ENDHPXXWY6GNZCMU.jpg?auth=&width=567&height=349)
In its website, the UNESCO explains that the process to make artisanal talavera in the states of Puebla and Tlaxcala still resemble the 16th-century process , despite new technology , as Mexican artisans prepare the clay, make the earthenware using a potter’s wheel or cast, decorate the pieces by hand, prepare the pigments , and glaze and tend the kiln. Moreover, the artisans transmit their knowledge from one generation to the next:
“Some ceramists carry out the whole process, while others specialize in specific tasks. Related knowledge – including raw material extraction, material processing, decoration , and firing techniques – is mostly borne by master earthenware artisans and ceramists , who have developed their skills over time and transmit them to the next generations through oral transmission in their artisanal workshops or in the family setting.”
![UNESCO declares talavera as part of the world’s cultural heritage](https://www.eluniversal.com.mx/resizer/v2/GBG6WJCTRZCKFJOBPQOB2525SA.jpg?auth=&width=567&height=349)
Furthermore, talavera pottery has become part of Mexico’s identity and an important source of income for families in Puebla and Tlaxcala .
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