artisan tour- part 1

A few weekends ago, I (Tab) finally had a chance to go on the "Artisan Tour."  A group of about ten of us followed our tour guide through town visiting the potters, bakers, and blacksmiths. Our first stop was the potter's. It is amazing how much work goes into making these pots...all done by hand.

it all starts with a pile of clay rocks

that get pounded down to a powder

then carried over to another compound to be made into the clay (we didn't see that part of the process)

The clay is eventually formed into a round circle. Then, this old lady coats it with donkey dung and starts to pound it with a stone

she places over an old pot that is used as a mold

Then she continues to pound it until it covers the old pot (a more finished example is on the left)

Once finished, the pots are fired and painted, Voila!  (they weren't firing or painting pots that day, but there were some finished products)

some of the kids who decided to join the tour