Forums > Areas > Jalisco's Lake Chapala Region

viejomalogato

Apr 1, 2011, 2:30 PM

Post #1 of 10 (3819 views)

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TILES

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Has anyone had tiles (4"x4", mas o meno) specially made in Tonola to specific design?
Tnak you
R

johninajijic

Apr 1, 2011, 10:58 PM

Post #2 of 10 (3777 views)

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Re: [viejomalogato] TILES

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No, but you can get almost any design tile in any size at the 1000 + tile stores on Ninos Heroes in GDL. If you can't find it there, it doesn't exist. Why would you consider Tonala for tiles? Much of Tonala's stuff is seconds as is some of the tile at stores in Ajijic.

I have one bathroom of complete Mexican tile in the house, another outside bathroom and one in the Casita, all first quality bought in GDL at a tile store I highly recommend. They ONLY sell first quality.

TILE & MARBLE FOR BATHS, KITCHENS, FLOORS, ETC
ARTESANIA CONSTUCTIVA - Best Quality Tile - No seconds
2084 Ninos Heroes - Guadalajara
Located across from Pemex station near Statue at rotary
Talk to: NOMI (Speaks English)
Telephones: 01 333 616 1511 OR 01 333 616 7297

tashby

Apr 2, 2011, 8:45 AM

Post #3 of 10 (3734 views)

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Re: [viejomalogato] TILES

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I have a friend who had some terracotta wall sconces created in Tonalá to her custom design, so I have to think it's doable. The trick will be finding the right taller. Sorry, I have no leads for you. Good luck.

chinagringo

Apr 2, 2011, 10:43 AM

Post #4 of 10 (3721 views)

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Re: [johninajijic] TILES

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Here we go again!

Since the OP specified 4 x 4 tile, one can safely assume or guess that he is referring to Talavera type tile. On top of that, the OP specified that he wanted a custom design. We too have shopped the tile stores on Ninos Heroes and have spent in excess of 50 days shopping Tonala and as a general rule, a majority of the Talavera Tile is produced in either the Puebla area or the area around Dolores Hidalgo. Most of the product found in either location comes from these two areas. To make a statement that the much of the tile found in Tonala are "seconds" is an irresponsible generalization. No comment on what is found in Ajijic. Since we are in the business of importing tile amongst other things, this is an area we are quite familiar with. I can safely say that the selection one finds in either Guadalajara or Tonala tends to be a drop in the bucket in the grand scheme of things. I just recently completed assembling the tile pages for our new website and between the standard Talavera style and the high relief style of tiles, we are showing over 550 different design options. We do not conduct business with any supplier that produces or ships anything other than first quality product. Most Talavera tile manufacturers will do custom design work and some even encourage such since most of their tile is produced to order rather than as a standard stocking item.

Regards,
Neil
Albuquerque, NM

don pedro

Apr 3, 2011, 5:41 PM

Post #5 of 10 (3621 views)

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Re: [johninajijic] TILES

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john you know nothing about tiles if you think all tiles in tonala and ajijic are seconds. your 'opinion' is groundless.
there is a store in chapala on madero across from the presidencia where one could order tiles made in puebla.
i have a friend in taxco that has access to custom tiles as well.

http://chapalamexicoinfo.createforumhosting.com

chinagringo

Apr 3, 2011, 6:12 PM

Post #6 of 10 (3616 views)

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Re: [tashby] TILES

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Tashby:

Tonala is well known and well respected for their pottery products. It only makes sense that your friend was able to have custom pottery sconces made there. While it is a given that tile or at least the Talavera style is made from clay but it doesn't equate to pottery. Another example is Talavera dinnerware since it too is generally made in Dolores Hidalgo or Puebla but in this case Ken Edwards Pottery is one of the unique manufacturers of dinnerware in Tonala. If one studies arts and crafts of Mexico, you will generally find that most products are geographic specific and that there isn't a great deal of crossover from region to region or city to city.
Regards,
Neil
Albuquerque, NM

tashby

Apr 3, 2011, 6:53 PM

Post #7 of 10 (3605 views)

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Re: [chinagringo] TILES

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Quote

Has anyone had tiles (4"x4", mas o meno) specially made in Tonola to specific design?

Does "4 x 4" automatically mean Talavera? I didn't know that.

Not much info/detail in the original question. I assumed, along with everything else, there were tile makers in TonaIá. I guess not. I hereby defer to the experts.

bournemouth

Apr 3, 2011, 7:31 PM

Post #8 of 10 (3598 views)

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Re: [tashby] TILES

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There are custom tile makers in Tonala. Salvador Vasquez, the well known barro bruñido potter, and his family, will make you tiles - gorgeous tiles but expensive. Other potters make tiles too but they are more works of art than practical tiles.

mexicobuff

Apr 3, 2011, 7:45 PM

Post #9 of 10 (3587 views)

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Re: [tashby] TILES

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4X4 is meaningless in Mexico; the correct measurement is 10X10. We deal in centimeters here, not inches. And 10X10cm does not necessarily mean talavera.

Strictly speaking, the clay goods made in and around Dolores Hidalgo are not genuine talavera. That commodity was brought to Puebla by the potters from Talavera, Spain--hence the name. True Mexican talavera is only made in Puebla. The stuff that comes from the Dolores Hidalgo area is an imitation of the real deal--some of it is gorgeous, but none of it is like that made in Puebla.

chinagringo

Apr 4, 2011, 7:06 AM

Post #10 of 10 (3544 views)

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Re: [mexicobuff] TILES

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You are absolutely correct about 10cm x 10cm being the standard and to be sure this converts to 3.937" x 3.937". Depending on width of grout line, the use of 4" x 4" for covered surface area may be fairly accurate.

Clay goods made in Puebla can be designated as "Talavera" but not all made in the Puebla area are Talavera. When the Mexican Government established the Consejo Regulador de Talavera back in the late '90's it provided for certain restrictions and performance standards in order to use the designation. At any given time, there are generally less than 20 workshops in the Puebla area producing so-called authentic Talavera. In my estimation, the "Puebla style" tends to be more intricate and traditional but you will often pay dearly for the Talavera and artist's designations on products. The Dolores Hidalgo area does produce "Talavera style" products albeit without the official designation. With over 1000 kilns operating in the area, it is only natural that much of the so-called Talavera products seen both SOB and NOB come from Dolores Hidalgo at generally more reasonable prices. The styling tends to be more universal and less traditional as a general rule and without regulation and certification, there are varying qualities being produced.

I stand corrected about the "art tiles" being produced in Tonala as we had never noticed them. The products that we import from Tonala tend to be the product categories which Tonala is known for.
Regards,
Neil
Albuquerque, NM