Alfareros de Patamban: High-Fired Ceramics in Rural Michoacán

Six high-fired ceramic plates from Alfareros de Patamban, Michoacán.

A few days ago, Mexico Cooks! headed for Patamban, Michoacán.  Our dear friend Claire, visiting from California, accompanied us.  Our goal was the taller (workshop) of Alfareros de Patamban (Patamban Ceramists).  We’d set up an appointment to spend some time with the owner, our old friend Ricardo Calderón.  Although we were delayed by traffic and arrived too late to meet with Ricardo, we were warmly greeted by long-time employees Sras. Cecilia Valentín Suárez and Gloria Méndez Álvarez.

Where in the world is Patamban, Michoacán?

Entrance to the Alfareros de Patamban taller (workshop).  When you arrive in Patamban, ask on the main street for directions to Ricardo Calderón’s workshop.  Any adult in town can point you the right way.

The door to the taller is inset with tiles that the workshop used to produce.

Ricardo Calderón, who moved from Mexico City to Patamban as a child, and his French wife, Catalina Bony, founded the workshop a little more than 25 years ago.  One of the first rural talleres of its kind in Mexico, Alfareros de Patamban makes only high-fired ceramics.

Cecilia Valentín Suárez hand-kneads masa de barro (clay).

Doña Cecilia has worked at the taller for nearly 25 years.  Today, the workshop employs between 16 and 20 townspeople.

The barro that Doña Cecilia prepared is ready for further processing.  The dishware is produced using a mix of three types of local clay: one kind is mined near San José de Gracia, Michoacán, and the other two types come from mines near Patamban.  You can see Doña Cecilia’s hand prints in the damp clay.

A small selection of the many dish forms made in the workshop.  You can buy anything from a single caballito (tequila cup) to a full vajilla (set of tableware) for six, eight, or more people.  The dishware is kiln-fired at more than 1200°.  All products are safe to be used in a microwave oven and washed in a dishwasher.

Jarras (pitchers) decorated with hand-drawn and hand-painted folkloric scenes.

Alfareros de Patamban traditionally exhibits at the annual Domingo de Ramos Feria de Artesanía in Uruapan, Michoacán, at the Noche de Muertos Feria de Artesanía in Pátzcuaro, and several other well-known artisans’ shows in the area.  You can also purchase their dishware at the Casa de Artesanía in Morelia.

Mexico Cooks! purchased four large coffee mugs, a covered salt dish, a cream pitcher, a small three-compartment serving dish, and one of the small square serving dishes pictured above.  Our bill was 420 pesos–about  $32.00 USD.

The traditional trastero (dish cupboard) in Mexico Cooks!’s kitchen holds a collection of plates, bowls, and other dish forms from Alfareros de Patamban.  Some of the dishes are fifteen years old or more.

Alfareros de Patamban
Melchor Ocampo #24
Patamban, Michoacán
México
Tel: 355.558.4118

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