Spanish pottery city seeks solid ceramic ties with China

MADRID — Spain's historic pottery city, Talavera de la Reina, aims to strengthen cultural and commercial ties with China by participating in the Jingdezhen International Ceramic Fair, the city's mayor, Jose Julian Gregorio Lopez, said.

Five Spanish ceramic artists attended the fair held from Oct 17 to 22 in Jingdezhen, Jiangxi province.

"We're very happy because this international fair is perhaps the most significant in terms of ceramics worldwide. The fact that we have 48 pieces from 18 workshops in Talavera is a challenge, and it is also a source of pride for me as mayor of this city," said Lopez, on Oct 20.

Renowned for its ornate glazed pottery, Talavera has a centuries-old ceramic tradition that flourished in the 16th century. UNESCO inscribed its traditional ceramic-making processes on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2019.

The pieces selected for the exhibition feature a range of designs and techniques reflecting the diversity of contemporary Talavera pottery. According to the local council, participating artists were given complete liberty to choose works that best represent their artistic identities.

"The ceramics we have at the fair are contemporary and artistic but within the traditional ceramics of Talavera. Our exhibition is very complete, and our ceramists will be able to meet their counterparts from China and other countries at this major fair, and see how they work," said the mayor.

In 2025, Talavera hosted a touring exhibition of Dehua white porcelain, known internationally as "Blanc de Chine", from Fujian province. During the exhibition, Dehua officials expressed hopes of establishing sister-city ties with Talavera and expanding cooperation in ceramic craftsmanship, culture and trade.

Talavera's participation in Jingdezhen this year reflects the nature of these exchanges, with the Spanish city bringing its own ceramic heritage to Chinese audiences.

"We're doing this exhibition, but then we will also have exhibitions in Talavera from China, showing their porcelain and ceramics. It is a two-way street," said the mayor.

Beyond cultural exchanges, Talavera is also seeking to create new commercial opportunities for its ceramic artists and workshops in the Chinese market.

According to the local council, the works displayed at the fair will remain in China after the event. At the same time, Talavera will establish a permanent official sales point at the Jingdezhen official ceramic flagship store, providing a lasting platform for Spanish ceramic products in China.