Ceramic Bird by Santana, Tonala, 1980s

The term "Ceramica Tonalá Santana Mex" refers to Mexican handicrafts made in the municipality of Tonalá (in the state of Jalisco) and signed by the artist J. Santana or members of the Santana family.
These works are renowned examples of Mexican folk art, characterized by hand-painted decorations that often depict local flora and fauna.
Santana ceramics are famous for their depictions of animals, particularly birds (doves, owls, ducks), fish, and butterflies, as well as floral motifs and the typical "Mexican sun."
They follow the Tonalá tradition, which often uses barro bruñido (burnished clay). This technique does not use glossy vitreous glazes, but achieves its shine by manually smoothing the surface with a hard object before firing. The pieces typically feature neutral, earthy tones such as brown, beige, and black, sometimes enhanced with accents of cobalt blue or green.
Tonalá is considered one of Mexico's most important ceramic centers, with a tradition that blends pre-Hispanic techniques and Spanish colonial influences.