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Spanish Tiles—A Brief History of their Origin Ideas:

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The origins of Spanish tile are modest and stretch back thousands of years.

Before then Muslim invasion of Spain in the year 711, ceramics had been utilized in structural design in the
form of unglazed bricks, mosaic prices, roofing tiles, water channels, eaves, etc. However, the introduction
of glazed tiles or tiles enameled with metallic oxides was a contribution of Islamic culture. The first
European use of such tiles was in Spain, and their use eventually spread throughout the Western world.

Mayólica is the Spanish term for tin-glazed earthenware. As early as the 17th century in Spain, the name
“Talavera”, after the Spanish ceramic center of Talavera de la Reina, also became synonymous with tin-
glazes pottery.

During Medieval times, ceramics were widely
produced in Southern and Coastal Eastern Spain,
such as tiles for decoration and construction, as
well as earthenware utilitarian pieces. Great pieces
of artisan tile were created for churches and
palaces throughout Spain.

Tiles and other ceramic pieces were exported from
Seville and Cadiz first throughout the
Mediterranean and then later, the world. With
time, the knowledge and styles of ceramics
developed in Spain diffused throughout Europe,
making Spain just one of many centers of tile and
ceramic ware manufacturing. One of the greatest
recipients of this tradition was Mexico, centering in
the colonial capital of Puebla.
Figure 37: The Centuries old art of making Talavera Pottery in Pueblo, Mexico

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