Tlaquepaque’s association with pottery starts with its very name, which is derived from the Náhuatl language and interpreted as “Atop Clay Hills.” Such is the connection that an expression in Mexico, “jarrito de Tlaquepaque” (“little clay jar from Tlaquepaque”) is commonly used to refer to someone perceived as delicate, or easily hurt. This pottery history has been celebrated in the form of the Regional Museum of Pottery since 1954.

The museum is housed in the buildings of a former 19th-century hacienda. Its collection consists mostly of pottery pieces from the 18th and 19th centuries and showcases a large variety of techniques and finishes.

Particularly notable are the series of works produced by Mexican families dedicated to pottery for generations. These include the Barnabé, Jimón, Pajarito, and Panduro families. A particularly striking exhibition is the recreation of a traditional hacienda kitchen, with walls almost completely covered with clay pots, jars, cups, and pans.

While not as large as Mexico’s National Museum of Ceramics, located nearby, Tlaquepaque’s museum is still a great option to learn more about one of humanity’s oldest forms of tool-making, in a setting whose history is directly linked to the industry built around the craft.