Mallorcan Ceramics

A few years ago my family rented a mountain house in Mallorca out of season for my birthday. One day we walked down to the weekly market in the local village and stumbled across a man selling beautiful ceramics and I bought an octopus plate and spoon rest.

The plate is one of my favourite things in the world and probably (other than paint colours) the thing I get asked about most.

Last year I went back to the same market on the off chance he was there. Of course he wasn’t! Luckily I’m a relentless psycho and after asking around for a while (with google translate) another of the traders knew what the hell I was talking about and messaged him on our behalf, securing us an invite to his ‘su taller’ (his workshop) later that morning.

Up in the verdant hills at the end of a dusty unpaved road we found Tony the potter and his ancient workshop. He invited us in for a look around and to told us about himself. His family have lived in the village, the centre of Mallorcan pottery, since records began in the 16th Century and his workshop was full of his lovely handmade and hand painted ceramics. 

Tony is the 11th recorded generation of his family to do this work but will retire relatively soon and with none of his children wanting to take over the family business, sadly his taller will close for ever.

We asked him if he was willing to do a mini collection with us and he was! And here we are with our Tony collection