Vintage Tlaquepaque Terracotta Floral Pie Plate – Mid-Century Mexican Folk Art
 
Description & Origin
This 30.5 cm (12") diameter × 5.08 cm (2") deep terracotta pie plate hails from Tlaquepaque, Jalisco, Mexico’s ceramic heartland, and likely dates to the 1940s–1960s.
Characterized by its:
Hand-painted floral band in green, brown, and blue on a beige slip-glazed base, a signature of Tlaquepaque’s bruñido (burnished) pottery tradition.
Elegant age crazing—a network of fine glaze cracks that enhances its vintage charm without compromising structural integrity.
The plate’s shallow form suggests dual use as a serving platter for pan dulce (sweet bread) or baking dish for quesadillas, bridging function and artistry.
Key Features:
Tlaquepaque Craftsmanship:
Made from local red clay, hand-thrown and decorated with mineral-based pigments before single-firing.
Beige slip background contrasts with the bold floral motifs, a style influenced by Spanish Talavera but with looser, folkloric brushwork.
 
Design Elements:
Rim pattern: Intertwined leaves and blossoms mirror the árbol de la vida (Tree of Life) motifs seen in Metepec pottery, adapted here for utilitarian ware.
Glaze variations: Subtle pooling of green and blue hues confirms hand-dipping techniques.
 
Condition Notes:
No chips or cracks—rare for thin terracotta of this age.
Stable crazing: Surface cracks are sealed.
 
Historical Context:
Tlaquepaque’s golden age: Post-WWII, artisans blended pre-Hispanic coil methods with colonial glazes to create wares for both local use and booming tourist trade.
Floral symbolism: The design may nod to Jalisco’s flor de tastoán, a local wildflower celebrated in festivals.