Another unknown fact to me (at least unknown prior to my advent in Turkey) is that Turkey has a long and storied history in ceramics, dating back a very long way. During our stay in Kapadokya, we got to tour a ceramics studio.
The rivers of the region of Kapadokya product a good red clay which has been used for centuries by local potters, perhaps back to Hittite times.. The studio where we stopped, Venessa Seramik and Pottery, is a family studio. The gentleman to the left below is the son of the founder; the younger man to his right is his cousin.
Below you see a very traditional container often used for wine. This is done from a single block of clay.
Here, the potter cuts it open to demonstrate that he was able to make the complete container.
We then walked through their workshop. The gentleman below is decorating the piece - by hand. He has done this kind of work for 40 years; this was to be one of his last pieces. Due to the concentration and detail, he can only work two to three hours a day on it.
A view of the workshop:
The different steps of coloring and firing ceramics, along with the changes in colours:
Examples of their work:
Along with rug weaving, I gained a new appreciation of ceramics and how they are made.
How beautiful!
ReplyDeleteSandi, they had many amazing works in their store (which, sadly, we were not able to take pictures off). I will also say their work was quality - and the price reflected it.
DeleteThose ceramic pieces are indeed beautiful, talent, skill and the concentration......wow!
ReplyDeleteNylon12, they were truly impressive.
DeleteI think sometimes we get so "used to" consumer offerings we forget there is really good work being done out there.
The very large plate behind the man's head is one I would like to take home. Along with a variety you can see in your background. This will be, of course, after I win the lottery.
ReplyDeleteAnon - You and me both. My "Fine Arts" list could get pretty long if money were not an issue.
DeleteI'm guessing that larger clay pot underneath works as a stand and adds mass so that the disk keeps spinning longer once he gets it going with his feet?
ReplyDeleteI suspect you are right, Ed. Also, perhaps it reflects some level of historicity.
DeleteWhat a great place to tour. The plates (platters?) are gorgeous. Were you able to buy any pieces?
ReplyDeleteLeigh, it really was. This company overall seems to hit it out of the park with these sorts of tours - this is the same company that took us to the coffee plantation in 2020.
DeleteWe got a few ceramic trivets - beautiful, but definitely done by junior assistants.
So glad you caught the potter "kicking" the wheel, TB. What a lot of coordination is brought to making pottery. And what a great place to visit. Seeing that man bent over a large bowl makes me appreciate the talent and experience that goes into so laboriously hand-painting such a large piece of pottery. Or, even a small piece, for that matter.
ReplyDeleteBecki, it was amazing. It certainly gave me a great deal more insight into the process - and appreciation for the result.
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