Porringer/ Escudilla 1475-1550, Manises, Spain International Folk Art Foundation, Santa Fe Photo by Paul Smutko

All of these ceramics reveal something about the times in which they were created: the dress of different eras and classes; the types of herbs that were used medicinally and sold in local apothecary shops; the beverages and foods consumed in religious institutions, palaces, and homes. Occasionally a new vessel form indicates a new social custom or practice, such as the mancerina, designed specifically for serving chocolate, a drink introduced to Spanish colonists by the Aztecs. Over the years, mayólica potters have created a valuable record of costume, custom, and diet.