What is Talavera Tile?

Talavera Tile is a general category that consists of, colorful hand-painted design tiles and coordinating solid field and trim tiles. We, at Mexican Tile and Stone Company are proud to have our very own unique/one of a kind Talavera type tile. Our 2nd generation “high fired” Talavera Tile is processed and manufactured differently and more effectively than the original/traditional Talavera Tiles.

The original Talavera Tile has roots that date back to the 15th Century in Europe being used in various countries where it became extremely popular in Spain. As the Spaniards came to Mexico in the 17th Century, they brought the Talavera Tile craftsmanship with them. Talavera Tile made its debut in the United States around the 19th Century in the Southwest due to its Spanish Architectural influence. We, at Mexican Tile and Stone Company keep the tradition of Talavera Tile alive not only in Arizona, but nationwide. This is why Mexican Tile and Stone Company distribute the 2nd generation of Talavera Tile. Our Talavera Tile has the original/traditional look and feel. This Talavera type tile was created to be longer lasting in all interior applications and more suitable for pool, water lines, fountains, and other exterior applications in non freezing climates.

Our Talavera Tile is “fired” in the kilns, much like ovens, at a higher temperature than the original/traditional Talavera Tile. Also, our Talavera Tile is made with stronger, finer clay that is made in a different region in Mexico than the original/traditional that came to be in the 17th Century. Our “high fired” Talavera Tile is a single fired process, unlike the double fired process of the original Talavera Tile. The single fire process fuses the glaze to the unfired clay body, making a stronger unit under stress, which the double fired process lacks.

The Talavera Tile that is singled fired can be found in our Antiguo, Monte Carlo, Talavera Elegante, and Renaissance collections.