For Rosa Khalaf, who grew up in Laredo, Texas, Talavera Pottery was a part of her childhood. A lover of plants, Khalaf, would often see Talavera pottery in people’s yards and homes, but due to the expense of the pots, she and her mother couldn’t afford to buy them.
One of twelve children, Khalaf was the only girl that shared her mother’s love of plants and Talavera pottery.”I grew up with this pottery, but it was hard for me to get one of these pieces,” Khalaf told The Dallas Express. “It was very hard for my mother.”
Now grown, she was able to make her mother’s dream of owning the beautiful pots a reality.
“Once I opened my Talavera pottery shop, I brought my mom [to the shop], and I said, ‘Ma, what pieces [of pottery] do you need?’ She was so happy.”
Further, Khalaf offers that beauty to those who patronize her store.
Talavera Pottery is a centuries-old style of Spanish pottery, rooted in the tradition that began in Talavera de la Reina, Spain, before expanding to the mountainous regions of the Mexican town of San Pablo del Monte and the state of Puebla.
Since the sixteenth century, the natural clay found within the mountains has been used to create the tin-glazed earthenware Mexican pottery. Today, Talavera Pottery is still a part of Mexican and Spanish culture, with its influences found in architecture and designs throughout the United States and the world.
The expense of Talavera pottery is a result of the sixteenth-century production process still used today. The Denominación de Origen de la Talavera (Denomination of the Origin of Talavera) law protects the traditional method of its production.
Only pottery designed in designated workshops and areas can be called Talavera. The authenticity of Talavera pottery can be verified by looking at the underside of the piece to see the initials of the artist as well as the manufacturer’s logo and location in Puebla.
“Talavera Pottery is handmade, and every piece is unique,” Khalaf said. “My pieces are 100% imported from Mexico.”
Khalaf, who is very selective about the Talavera pieces she purchases for her store, will only buy handcrafted pieces from families who have been producing Talavera pottery over generations.
“I don’t want to sound like I don’t like the factories, but the quality of the work is better coming from individual families,” she said.
Getting into the business of selling Talavera Pottery in Laredo was no easy task. As Khalaf searched for vendors to purchase from, she realized people were not quick to help her source the pottery.
“We started asking nursery owners in Laredo who was selling Talavera, where they got their pots from,” said Khalaf.
Khalaf was told by the owner if she revealed the secret of where the pots had come from, Khalaf would no longer need to buy the goods from her.
Eventually Khalaf found a delivery driver who would bring the Talavera pots straight to her. With $350, Khalaf opened her shop with a few items. Nine years later, Rosa’s Pottery had grown into a profitable business.
The shop has expanded from offering pots to stocking wall decorations and novelty items such as Day of the Dead, Frida Kahlo, and Katrina dolls. Rosa’s shop, located in a former credit union, is filled with colorful Talavera pottery, which she calls her “happy” place.
“Believe it or not, I have customers that say, ‘Rosa, I don’t want to buy anything, but I just want to [come in], be relaxed [and look around],” she said.
For Khalaf and her family, Talavera Pottery has become a way to carry on the traditions of Mexican art. It has also allowed them to build a foundation for their future generations.
“When I’m not here one day, I told my kids I want this to keep [the shop] going, and they say, ‘Yeah we’re going to keep it, mom.’ So we’ll see what happens, but [for now] I’m here, and I’m happy,” Khalaf said.
Khalaf’s Pottery is located in Arlington at 910 E Road to Six Flags Street, and is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.
