Olive Oil Jar / Botija 18th century, Spain Lead-glaze earthenware Gift of the Historical Society of New Mexico Museum of International Folk Art (Museum of New Mexico), Santa Fe Photo by Paul Smutko

Pottery was sent both as merchandise and container aboard the Spanish galleons. The most common form was the ‘olive jar,’ a plain or bisque ware used as a container for shipping liquids such as olive oil and wine. Mayólica, however, was sent more often as merchandise or as the personal property of passengers. Jars, inkwells, candlesticks, cups and chamber pots were among items shipped to Veracruz, Mexico, from Seville and Cadiz. Sevillian tiles were also used as ballast, taking the place of bags of sand that could not be sold at their destination.

The pieces here, made in the Americas, reflect the influence of these early shipments of pottery from Spain.

View of the Port at Veracruz, Mexico / Vista del puerto de Veracruz, México 1615 Photo courtesy of the Archivo General de las Indias, Sevilla Copyright España. Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte. Archivo General de Indias, Sevilla