At the Ken Edwards Factory in Tonala, Jalisco

Last week, we went to Tonala to meet Ken Edwards, famous for the stoneware pottery that his various businesses have created here in Mexico for many decades. At first, Kelly and I heard the story of how Ken Edwards got started in stoneware in Mexico -- the link takes you to that blog post, with an 11-minute mp3 file of part of the interview.

After we talked, we went next door to the factory and Ken showed us around. It was evident what good relationships he had with the workers. He goes back decades with many of them.

Here, he stands in front of one of the kilns. Unfortunately, I've forgotten the details of what was unique about this particular kiln, but he had invented some aspect of it! Everything they do is reduction stoneware.

The shelves (and parts of the floor) were full of pots that had been fired but not yet glazed.

 

 

 

 

The men who paint the charming designs on the pottery work together; there were about six of them.

They hold their brushes in what we would consider an upside-down position, which Ken had discovered actually works better for accuracy!

Here is one of the large stoneware pots soon to be fired again.