Handmade pottery village in Bac Ninh busy before Tet holiday
Friday, 20/01/2023 11:15 (GMT+7)
Before Tet (the Lunar New Year) holiday, the people of the ancient pottery village of Phu Lang increase products such as flowerpots and vases to meet the needs of the market.
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| Located in Que Vo district, Bac Ninh province, Phu Lang village has been famous for its pottery craft for more than 700 years. Currently, the village has about 200 households maintaining this traditional craft. Not only a long-standing culture, pottery also creates the main source of income of Phu Lang commune. |
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| Before Tet, the craft village increases the production of decorative products such as flowerpots, bonsai pots, and peach vases. Many houses have started making more of them a few months ago to keep up with the supply to the market. |
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| Phu Lang pottery material is red-pink clay taken from Thong Vat and Cung Khiem areas in the northern province of Bac Giang. |
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| Today, the clay making process has been supported by machines to save time, effort and increase productivity for craft villagers. |
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| Depending on the product, the clay will be shaped by stroking it on a turntable, or printed on a wooden mold. After shaping, the ceramic will be painted with a layer of glaze and then dried in the sun. |
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| Phu Lang ceramic glaze is made from natural materials, non-toxic, durable, and difficult to fade. |
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| Decorative patterns on Phu Lang pottery are simple but delicate, inspired by the life of lotus flowers, carp, and trees. |
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| One of the special features of Phu Lang pottery is that after hundreds of years, the product is still fired in a wood-burning kiln. Therefore, although the ceramic is rough, it is strong and rustic. |
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| Due to the use of firewood to heat the furnace, dry firewood is piled up on both sides of the road, becoming a feature of Phu Lang village. |
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| A product made with quality must be kept in its original state, reaching the maturity level and standard enamel color. In particular, when tapped, the product will emit a clear sound like a bell. |
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| Phu Lang village mainly produces 3 types of pottery depending on the purpose. These are religious ceramics, household ceramics, and decorative ceramics. |
BTA (Photo: To Quoc News)