San Germán Pottery is a family owned workshop located in México. We produce the world famous Tonalá-style ceramic.
Our pottery is 100% handmade using the stoneware technique, and it is hand-painted using the traditional designs and patterns. It is also completely lead free and microwave, oven and dishwasher safe.
If you would like detailed information about our pottery and workshop, please keep reading...
This page has the following sections:
- Tonalá-style pottery
- The San Germán workshop
- Our shop in the Saturday's Bazaar
- Our shop in the 'Ciudadela' Market
The town of Tonalá has produced some of Mexico's finest pottery, even before the Spanish conquest. The techniques were modified and improved over time, but a lot of the traditional patterns and designs are still in use today, making this type of ceramic distinctive and unique.
Then, around 1960, ceramist Jorge Wilmot came to Tonalá, and introduced the stoneware technique to the traditional pottery workshop. This kind of pottery is burned at very high temperatures--about 1300 degrees Celsius. This makes the pottery extremely resistant and gives it distinctive enamel-like surface. It also makes the pottery 100% lead free.
The other workshops in Tonalá quickly adopted the technique, but the production of the other lower-temperature ceramics remained, as well as glassware and many other crafts.
We first began working with ceramics in 1965, when Julieta Olmos began buying pottery in Tonalá, Jalisco, and selling it in the famous San Angel Saturday's Bazaar, in Mexico City,
In 1984, Jaime Bravo, Julieta's son, associated with the Olea family from Tonalá, and established the San Germán Workshop in Tonalá, Jalisco. The workshop production was sold mainly in the Saturday's Bazaar, but we also produced pottery for other stores in Mexico City and Guadalajara.
In 1987 Jaime independized from the Oleas, and transferred the workshop to its actual place in Texcoco, about 30 minutes away from Mexico City. This region is famous too for its artisans and handcrafts, being one of the main industries its hand painted glass production.
Our shop at the Saturday's Bazaar
This Bazaar is the creation of Nacho Romero, who wanted a place where the artisans and artists could offer their products to the public. In 1965 it was possible, with the help of the government, to stablish the Bazaar in the historic San Angel district of the city, in a recently restored 18th century colonial building. Due to its location, it was decided from the beginning that the Bazaar would only open on Saturdays, to preserve the tranquility of this traditional neighborhood.
Up to this day the Bazaar continues to provide locals and visitors with the unique experiences of its arts and crafts and traditional food inside, and outside you can find numerous galleries and restaurants that have flocked around it.
To see a map of the Saturday's Bazaar location please go to the Where to Buy Link.
Our shop at the Ciudadela Market
With time we noticed the need to open another store-one that would be open during weekdays--to give better service to our clients. After a little search for the best location we could get a place in the 'Ciudadela' Market.
This market is located in the historic city downtown, across the little park that surrounds the building called the 'Ciudadela'--the citadel. This is a historic landmark, once used by Mexican army post and now a public library.
The market was created by the government, with hundreds of shops with almost all of the traditional handcrafts that are produced in Mexico. Here you can find from the typical sombrero to the best silverware, pottery and glassware, as well as all kinds of woodworks and textiles.
To see a map with the location of the Ciudadela Market please go to the How to Buy Link.
We thank you for your interest in our pottery, and please write to us with all the questions you might have at the E-mail us link, or directly at this address:
