Alfarería Tito - Museo de Alfarería Juan Martínez Villacañas

Juan Martínez Villacañas “Tito” was born in Úbeda, into a family with a long tradition in pottery. At the age of 25 he had to choose between abandoning the trade he had learned and worked at since childhood, and adapting everything he had learned until then to try and convince society to accept and value the production of pottery which had apparently lost the functional battle against new materials.

Juan Martínez “Tito” paid no attention to the prophets of doom and continued in his workshop, maintaining and recovering the best of the rich Iberian pottery tradition, incorporating both his own techniques and designs as well as those that had been forgotten. This ethical and aesthetic effort began to produce pieces imbued with history but with a personality and finish unknown in Úbeda since the Renaissance.

Nowadays, together with his son Juan Pablo, a loyal disciple of his teachings, a tireless researcher of their craft and to who he has taught everything he knows, they manage a pottery establishment which is both authentic and original, a Pottery Museum located in the Renaissance heart of the city and which is a blend of antique pieces, both unique and original, traditional styles and an innovative repertoire of pottery.

En 1981, he was recognised by the Ministry of Culture for the work undertaken the Pottery Museum. In 2006, he won the National Crafts Award and 2007 he was appointed a member of the Craft Commission of Andalusia, as a renowned artisan.

On 16 May, 2011 he was appointed Master Craftsman by the Tourism, Commerce and Sports Council of the regional government of Andalusia.