Stoneware is one of the most durable and hardy types of pottery. Made from a mix of finely ground clay, inelastic earth and rock, stoneware is classified by its ingredient makeup and extreme firing temperature required to reach its optimal hardness. With a storied history that includes two presidential commissions and cross-border, Mexico-America business ties, Ceramica el Palomar de las Margaritas (El Palomar) has been producing stoneware in Tlaquepaque, Mexico, since 1964. A collaboration and confluence of talents including those of famed ceramist Ken Edwards, El Palomar was the original pioneer of high-quality, high-fired stoneware in Mexico. Sourcing a proprietary mix of ingredients from the mines of Celaya in central Mexico, El Palomar takes special care in maintaining a consistent, lead-free mixture for all of its pottery. Given the hardness and unique nature of the clay mixture, each piece of stoneware takes a lengthy 28 days to produce from start to finish. El Palomar's pottery is classified as high-fire stoneware, with kiln temperatures reaching kiln temperatures reaching 2,350 F (1,287 C). This high-fire classification results in a vitrified (glass) surface, making El Palomar's stoneware watertight, microwave safe, oven safe, dishwasher safe, extremely durable and thus suitable for rigorous daily use. The exquisite patterns and designs of El Palomar stoneware have been a family heritage that continues to this day. The Kent family still oversees the daily production and all activities of the El Palomar studio, including the hand-painting and finishing of every piece. El Palomar stoneware is artisanal work at its finest and makes lifetime pieces that can be handed down from generation to generation. Find the design that speaks to you.
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