Hand-Painted Talavera Ceramic Tissue Box Cover from Mexico, "Folk Art Convenience"

“My name is Juana Ponce. I was born in the Mexican state of Guanajuato, where Don Miguel Hidalgo left his ceramic heritage to the native peoples of the region. Today it is an active legacy. I began this beautiful artisanal craft 25 years ago due to my father, and it is carried on by the hands of my husband and children.

“Working with Talavera-inspired ceramics is fascinating. I like it because it allows me to create various colors and forms. I try to draw my inspiration from what the ceramic transmits – its tradition and its characteristic colors that transform our Mexican culture. When it comes to jewelry, I really enjoy being able to fuse Talavera-style ceramics with silver, giving it an elegant touch. The primary material we use is ceramic. After the crafting process, it is decorated using a variety of colors. We have our own glaze formulas originating from this beautiful region.

“Working as a family is very important, allowing us to bring our points of view to the table with more freedom and simplicity. My sons are in charge of selling our crafts to other parts of the country, optimizing resources, quality control, and designing our pieces. I consider compromise, identity, admiration, creativity, and responsibility to be important traits in each member of the family. Without them, an important part of our work would be lost. We work by hand alongside other families that collaborate with us on each detail. Together, we reaffirm our identity, and in this way we introduce this craft to the world.

“Each one of the obstacles that we have faced has shown how strong we are as a family. One of these challenges was the passing of our father only a few years ago. He lives on in our artisanal legacy. Therefore, he is with us always. He showed us the value of tenacity and resistance in the face of life's challenges. In this way, we grow and solidify our legacy. Working with Novica, we hope to consolidate our work and our workshop and leave a family legacy that endures for many generations, just like my father did.”