World crafts – pottery village, Vietnam

Pottery is another craft which has been around for thousands of years. It is used for practical items, but is also an art, where the potter can put his or her personality into every item they make. There is something so satisfying about using your hands to make something, which all you crafty people will know well, but that feeling seems even more exaggerated when you are working with clay.

This small village, just outside the small town of Hoi An, was centred around pottery – everyone was involved in the process, and every space was used for the trade. This lady let me have a go on their hand-spun wheel, and I think what I produced wasn’t too bad!

Shaping the vase on the potter's wheel

Shaping the vase on the potter’s wheel

Left out to dry before firing

Left out to dry before firing

The kiln

The kiln

Getting the air out of the clay

Getting the air out of the clay

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