Triana, across the river from Sevilla, is historically one of the most famous areas for pottery and ceramic production in all of Spain. The ceramic makers in Triana flourished because of its location in the valley of the Guadalquivir River, close to the rich and fertile soil which gave a fine quality to the clay used in the ceramics.

Pottery has been made here since prehistoric times, but the major influence on 'modern' ceramics in Triana has been that of the Moorish culture of the 8th to 15th centuries and there are still old Arab ovens that exist there today. This rich heritage from old civilizations has given this neighbourhood its special identity. The wisdom of 1000 year old cultures has created a unique way of being and feeling which is reflected in its ceramics.

Tradition and art are combined in the ceramics from Triana. In the XVI Century, the energy of the master craftsmen from Triana made Sevilla the focus of attraction for Flemish, French, German and Italian craftsmen. The sharing of knowledge between craftspeople from Triana and those from abroad resulted in the creation of new workshops, marking the high point of the development of ceramics in this period. This gave birth to authentic works of art which are still in their streets and monuments.

The most important ceramists of Spain's history settled in the Triana neighbourhood, the old quarter outside the walls of the city. Among them, Fernando Martinez Guijarro stands out. The Catholic Monarchs, Isabel and Ferdinand, appointed him as one of the main suppliers of tiles for the Royal Alcazar in Sevilla.

Our Triana Collection

Our stunningly beautiful, one of a kind, hand painted works of art on ceramic tiles are created by a three generation family of ceramic artisans in the historic Triana neighbourhood of Santa Ana in Sevilla. The first generation potter created terra cotta forms, using an old Arab kiln, and sold them to other workshops in Triana for glazing and painting - a method still employed by many workshops in Triana to this day. His son, Emilio, is an artist, a sculptor, and also taught in the Fine Arts Department at the University of Sevilla. He expanded his family business to now include the complete process of ceramics, from the throwing of the shapes on the potter's wheel to the hand painting. He was commissioned by the Sevilla Government during the World Fair in 1929 to create ceramics for the Plaza de España, which is world famous. Emilio is presently retired from teaching and is creating sculptures for Gibraltar and creating reproductions of his own work for ongoing restorations at the Plaza de España.

Beatriz and Gabriel, Emilio's son and daughter-in-law (both artisans in their own right), are continuing the family's traditions, creating the beautifully hand painted tiles presented in our collection of murals and single hand painted tiles.

Related article on the history of tile making in Triana and Sevilla