How I Found My Identity

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When I opened my doors two short years ago, I had lots of expectations for starting a pottery and outdoor décor business. A recent graduate of Southern Methodist University, with a life time of experience in the Mexican import business, I was reentering a business that my parents had ran successfully for twenty some odd years before my mother’s passing. In those years growing up in their business, I learned important lessons that influence my expectations for Old World Pottery.
Better Selection: At Old World Pottery, I will not have a large volume of identical products at prices befitting a discount warehouse, but I will have a large selection of uniquely hand crafted products by various artist at prices that are commonly half the price of my peers in large metropolises like Dallas and Houston. My pottery and outdoor décor are carefully selected by me and my father, as we value its uniqueness as well as its durability. In addition to carrying pottery and garden art from Mexico, we also carry stone work and iron work made in the United States, from California, Kansas, and North Carolina.
Better Quality: The unique styles, the care from and high standards of the artists, and the quality material contribute to the durability of my products and how they handle the extreme weather. Whether it’s terra-cotta clay, stone work, or ironwork, we pay attention to how it handles the heat and cold, while providing you information on how to maintain them for many years to come.
I’m not Wal-Mart or any other "big-box" store. I do not seek to be apart of a world revolved around buying large volumes and selling at discount prices. I’m not some random business off the side of the highway or at flea markets. I’m not in the business of buying random junk. I enjoy traveling and hand picking beautiful pieces of garden art. I prefer learning about where they come from, the history behind it, and how it is made. Lastly, I prefer to use this information to educate my clientele so that they are knowledgeable about picking out the best pots and maintaining them for seasons to come. My prices are set, but I always find ways to help customers receive a better deal through free delivery (within Wichita Falls city limits) or discounts for buying multiple pieces.
Visit me at my location at 2306 Jacksboro HWY, by Sullivan Toyota across from the Flying J Truck stop. I’m also located on the internet. Visit my Facebook page at Old World Pottery, and check out my webpage: www.oldworldpottery.blogspot.com.
Better Selection, Better Quality, Old World Pottery
Sincerely,
Saul Ramos

This One Particular Goat...

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(This is a piece contributed by Social Media Consultant, Ruby Arriaga. edit.)

There are various ways to decorate your patio and garden. Among them are animal planters of various styles & designs made using terra-cotta, stone work, ironwork, and more. There is a fond memory of my grandparent's home, and of a particular goat planter. My grandmother had grown up among live stock in the old world before immigrating to the United States. What seemed so unusual to us about growing up among animals, was quite common for her generation; however, her new life in her new home wouldn't permit that lifestyle. Instead, my grandmother paid special attention to one of her planters that was shaped as a goat. She had arranged her garden in such a way that her goat played the dual rolls of being the main focal point of her garden while watching over it.





Rosary Decor

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(This is a piece contributed by Social Media Consultant, Ruby Arriaga. edit.)

Rosaries are traditionally viewed by Catholics with a profound respect for the Virgin Mary, as it is believed since its inception that the path to Christ is through Holy Mother. Although strongly associated with Roman Catholics, it is also a part of many Christian faiths, such as German Lutherans and the Anglican Communion (Church of England).Rosaries are made with a variety of materials, such as glass, plastic, stone, wood, metal, clay,  and marble; with each beads used to count a series of prayers dedicated to the life of Jesus Christ.

I personally have multiple rosaries that adorn my room, each with experiences marking special moments in my life. One of my favorite rosaries was bought as a gift by my mother at a garage sale, where the seller had no knowledge of its importance. It is longer in length than most of my other rosaries, and the brightness of the blue especially caught my attention. What makes this rosary so special to me, other than its distinguished looks, is that my grandmother, a devout Catholic, examined  it and explained that it was blessed.

The rosaries found at Old World Pottery are used as a way to make certain pottery or areas attractive as evidence through the pictures below.






Santo de San Miguel de Allende

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Here is another piece of art, however this comes from a familiar place for those who frequently travel to this secluded but well know tourist destination: San Miguel de Allende. The cross is made from the indigenous  wood that originally acted as a frame for many of the old Spanish Haciendas. It has come back to life as a beautiful well, worn cross with a hand painted mural of an unknown priest (not to be confused with Father Hildago). 

El Gallo de Guadalajara

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Below is one of my favorite pieces of art work. It is a Spanish Rooster (Gallo) handcrafted in Guadalajara. It's a planter that can easily be used as a simple statue in a Spanish home decor. It sits 3 ft tall and is made of terra cotta. The entire piece is hand painted in a uniform black/white style for the body. The exception is the head, where his eyes express an intense focus.

Talavera & Majolica Pottery

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Colorful. Distinct. Bright. Lively. Vibrant. These are just a few of the most flattering words used to describe Mexican Talavera and Majolica Pottery, however there are few who know the rich stories behind these pieces of art. 

Both Mexican Talavera and Majolica owe its roots to the elaborate art coming form the Middle East as the Ottoman Empire spread throughout the countries alongside the Mediterranean; however, the art form that we see today was perfected by the Italians of Florence during the Renaissance, called tin-glazed. There are many stories about how the term "Majolica" came to be associated with this type of pottery, but I'll indulge you with one story. It is believed that the Moorish potters from the Spanish island of Majorca created the first patterns of this style, and, as apt to do by the purchasers, were named after the place of origin. Of course, this is only one of many various stories.



Regardless, while Majolica pottery can be as simple or ornate as the potter wants them to be, they are not the same as Mexican Talavera. When the conquistadors conquered the New World, the Valley of Mexico became the leading producers of Majolica, called Talavera. Talavera differentiates itself from Spanish Talavera and Italian Majolica through indigenous pottery techniques, distinct patterns, extensive use of various bright colors, and a milky-white glaze.  



As always, stop by my location on 2306 Jacksboro by Sullivan Toyota to learn more about what I carry.

Happy decorating

Decorators Show House

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This past weekend, Old World Pottery participated in the Decorators Show House benefiting the Women's Refuge at Faith Mission.

I would love to thank all the compassionate women who this first year event an incredible success, to the men from the Faith Mission who volunteered their time and backs to help me set up at the house, and to all those who visited and purchased merchandise!

I especially want to thank those who purchased some of my beautiful pottery and metal art work, as OWP donated a portion of our sales to Faith Mission.

Old World Pottery prides itself in being apart of the community, especially when it can help those less fortunate.

Here are a few pictures from the show, enjoy:





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