My wife and I were in Chedraui recently when she spotted these cups on one of those promotional shelves that are in the way as you arrive. She
immediately liked both styles so we bought a couple of each. While the two cups on the left are of a style that would be at home in any kitchen in the
US or Canada, the two on the right are a very "Mexican" style cup called a jarrito.
The jarrito historically served as basic ware in the kitchens of the poor, most often in its natural state, without the benefit of glaze or colorful
decorations. In contemporary times, the jarrito is still often found in Mexico's rural areas, although it isn't as prevalent as before. My wife, who
is from Jalisco, recalls using them on family visits to her grandmother's ranch. She remembers how her lips would slightly stick to the bare clay cups
when drinking coffee from them. In cities, "fancy" versions of the jarrito are sometimes used as souvenir items to mark special dates or events.
But in Baja California, which has traditionally been oriented more to foreign markets, these cups have never been part of the cultural scene, even on
ranches.
The jarritos we bought have obviously acquired a local status value that they don't have in their place of origin, since they sold for over twice as
much as the "regular" cups on the left. My wife had never seen them painted or glazed before and thought they were well worth the price. While she
also liked the cups on the left, she said she probably wouldn't have paid for them what the jarritos cost.
What I found interesting was that the cerillito (bagger) who attended us held the jarritos in such low esteem that he didn't think they were even
worth wrapping individually in newspaper, something he did with the two "regular" cups. I suspect that this youth is from the interior and grew up
using jarritos daily. To him, they weren't worth the extra protection that a newspaper wrapping would have provided.
I didn't notice the difference in how the cups were wrapped until after we got home. Otherwise, I'd have tested my theory.
Just a thought.David K - 11-22-2011 at 03:56 PM
That is a very cool story Steve!
We are looking forward when we can come south and visit with you guys! Art sure had a good time, other than tinkering with his 4WD motorhome!Paula - 11-22-2011 at 05:05 PM
The blue flower on the jarritos is a classic Mexican tableware design. I've asked collectors and shop owners what the design is called, and where it
originated, so far no one has been able to answer these questions. I see the dishes in tourist shops as a rule, with varying prices, some too
expensive to think of buying. About a year ago I found pasta bowls in one of the little kitchenware and plastic stores in Loreto for 25 pesos each--
a steal!
I made pottery, mixed my glazes, fired my work for years, and comparing these bowls to more costly pieces that I have, I can't detect a difference in
quality. I have seen some that are not as well made at the tianguis, for a very reasonable cost.
Steve (or anyone else), do you know anything of the history of this design?
And by the way, this is absolutely NOT boring!BajaBlanca - 11-22-2011 at 05:16 PM
those mexican jarritos are just gorgeous ..... sure wish we lived closer to chedraui ...
Bajatripper
DianaT - 11-22-2011 at 05:20 PM
You are a very poor judge of what is boring-----it is an interesting story and an very interesting theory---
Thanks for sharing it. I know I would have wrapped the jarritos more carefully than the other ones!
[Edited on 11-23-2011 by DianaT]Bajahowodd - 11-22-2011 at 05:23 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by BajaBlanca
those mexican jarritos are just gorgeous ..... sure wish we lived closer to chedraui ...
Or just about any other major store? The price you pay for living in your own paradise.
Chedraui purchased the three stores that were previously CCC, two in La Paz and one in Cabo. They are all over Mexico, but as far as I know, there are
none in BC.volcano - 11-23-2011 at 07:44 AM
could you now tell us about that beautiful onyx and mosaic table? you made it, or origin?Osprey - 11-23-2011 at 10:58 AM
Many, many years ago some of the booths here in our little village, at our annual fiesta day celebration served coctails in crude clay copas which
they kept swimming in basins of water. In the awful heat of August down here, the cups hold onto the moisture and stay cool naturally. Those clay cups
served ranches all over Baja when special guests would come -- rancheros want their guests to have cold water even when they have no ice.
I was impressed, bought 10 from the c-cktail vendor, kept them on top of my kitchen cabinets. I used the wrong wall anchors for the cabinets, they
came down and we lost the cups and 150 pieces of nice but cheap dinner ware.
What's good for the goose is lot always good for the gooser. My wife was glad to see them go, I loved them. Have never seen one since. (I miss em)vandenberg - 11-23-2011 at 12:31 PM
One of my wife's suppliers in Dolores Hidalgo has a small factory where they make that type of ware.
Interesting place.
vandenberg - 11-23-2011 at 12:33 PM
One more:
JESSE - 11-23-2011 at 12:37 PM
Heres the authentic all time baja cup-mug, these things where all over the ranchos and ejidos all over back in the day:
vgabndo - 11-23-2011 at 03:05 PM
Jesse...Now we are in my ball park. The unbreakable enameled tin cup! California Gold Rush trash piles still contain the rusting remains of those
that didn't survive. Top of the line in 1849.
They don't offer evaporative cooling, but there is a psych effect of feeling cool water through the container that makes it seem a little cooler than
from pottery.
That is not much of a concern where spring water comes out of the ground in the 50 degree range!
We have a pot that clearly had cups hanging from it at one time. Would they have been jarritos?
And, very non-boring thread. But maybe the title was a misdirection for scanning trolls?
