traditional romanian crafts

TRADITIONALTRADITIONAL ROMANIAN CRAFTS ROMANIAN CRAFTS

POTTERYPOTTERY

CCONTENTSONTENTS

History of pottery in Romania History of pottery in Romania Fokloric leFokloric legends about pottersgends about potters Pottery Pottery CCentresentres of ceramics of ceramics in in RomaniaRomania ViVisit to a pottery workshopsit to a pottery workshop

HISTORY OF POTTERY IN ROMANIA HISTORY OF POTTERY IN ROMANIA

Pottery is one of the first crafts that has been Pottery is one of the first crafts that has been practiced sincepracticed since the Nthe Neoliteolithhicic period period. . The The processing of the clay required special processing of the clay required special knowledge knowledge (mode(modellllinging, decora, decorationtion, , burningburning) ) which had to be transmitted from generation to which had to be transmitted from generation to generationgeneration, , having an important role in the having an important role in the development of the primitive society. development of the primitive society. În În the the geographic space between the Carpathians and geographic space between the Carpathians and the Danube, there were found archeological the Danube, there were found archeological proofs regarding the early practice of pottery in proofs regarding the early practice of pottery in the Neolithic periodthe Neolithic period..

HISTORY OF POTTERY IN ROMANIAHISTORY OF POTTERY IN ROMANIA

Beginning with VBeginning with Vthth--IVIVthth B.C., the Geto-Dacians B.C., the Geto-Dacians made different household articles through made different household articles through potterypottery, , using pottery kilns and pottery using pottery kilns and pottery wheelswheels, , also adopting superior techniques also adopting superior techniques from Greece and from the Roman world. Thus from Greece and from the Roman world. Thus it can be proved through pottery that the it can be proved through pottery that the Geto-Dacians had, at that time, a civilizing Geto-Dacians had, at that time, a civilizing role in the south-east of Europe. role in the south-east of Europe.


IInn the Roman the Roman Dacia, Dacia, after after 106, 106, the the productproducts of s of the local craftsmen were in competition with the local craftsmen were in competition with the imported luxury ceramic productsthe imported luxury ceramic products, , but but this only succeeded to improve the quality of this only succeeded to improve the quality of the Daco-Roman pottery the Daco-Roman pottery regarding the regarding the common items. common items. The pottery workshops were The pottery workshops were archeologically confirmed to have existed in archeologically confirmed to have existed in almost all urban Dacic centres. Among the almost all urban Dacic centres. Among the Roman colonists, there were also brought Roman colonists, there were also brought potters from other parts of the Empire. potters from other parts of the Empire.

HISTORY OF POTTEY IN ROMANIAHISTORY OF POTTEY IN ROMANIA

Even after the withdrawal of the Even after the withdrawal of the Roman army and administration to Roman army and administration to the south of the Danube, pottery the south of the Danube, pottery continued to be practiced in the north continued to be practiced in the north (the post-Roman Dacia). (the post-Roman Dacia).

The conditions were difficult and so The conditions were difficult and so pottery was practiced ipottery was practiced inn the areas the areas that were protected against the that were protected against the violent violent migratormigratorss. . The old technology The old technology of the Daco-Roman pottery was used of the Daco-Roman pottery was used continuously until VIIcontinuously until VIIthth century. century.


In ancient times, the potters were In ancient times, the potters were grouped and formed factions of 200-grouped and formed factions of 200-300 families. They could be found in 300 families. They could be found in all villages, in the vicinity of fairs and all villages, in the vicinity of fairs and near more important royal near more important royal residences.residences.

People usually looked for potters People usually looked for potters especially around traditional especially around traditional holidays, at fairs, weddings or holidays, at fairs, weddings or baptisms. baptisms.

FOLK LEGENDS ABOUT POTTERSFOLK LEGENDS ABOUT POTTERS

Potters have always been invested with Potters have always been invested with demiurgic qualitiesdemiurgic qualities, , as they created new as they created new forms from paste. forms from paste.

The Romanian lThe Romanian legendegends say that potters s say that potters acquired their skill from Godacquired their skill from God, , but as they but as they did not have divine breath, they burned the did not have divine breath, they burned the products so that they should last forever. products so that they should last forever. According to old beliefs, here has to be According to old beliefs, here has to be sought the origin of the metaphor which sought the origin of the metaphor which identifies the clay container with the human identifies the clay container with the human bodybody, a figure of speech valued so much in , a figure of speech valued so much in the most important creations of the the most important creations of the universal poetry. universal poetry.

FOLK LEGENDS ABOUT FOLK LEGENDS ABOUT POTTERSPOTTERS

Also, the potter was considered Also, the potter was considered a sinful man and there is the a sinful man and there is the faith that on the other world he faith that on the other world he will have to work a lot because will have to work a lot because he burned and tortured the he burned and tortured the ground. ground.

POTTERYPOTTERY

Men take the clay from special Men take the clay from special places, bring it at home and places, bring it at home and knead it with their hands, feet or knead it with their hands, feet or with a big wooden hammer, with a big wooden hammer, mixing it with water. mixing it with water.

The paste produced in this way is The paste produced in this way is cleaned of impurities, by cutting cleaned of impurities, by cutting it into thin slices which are then it into thin slices which are then modeled with the pottery wheel. modeled with the pottery wheel.

POTTERYPOTTERY

The wheel is formed of two discs, a The wheel is formed of two discs, a smaller one on the top and a bigger one smaller one on the top and a bigger one at the bottom. They are joined by a at the bottom. They are joined by a vertical axis. vertical axis.

The potter puts the piece of clay on the The potter puts the piece of clay on the upper disc and he moves the other disc upper disc and he moves the other disc with his feet, in a fast circular with his feet, in a fast circular movement. movement.

POTTERYPOTTERY

The form of the pot requires a special The form of the pot requires a special technique and high working speed because technique and high working speed because the paste should not get dry. the paste should not get dry.

After modeling, the pots are left to dry for a After modeling, the pots are left to dry for a few days, in the shadow, then they are few days, in the shadow, then they are burned in special ovens after having been burned in special ovens after having been decorated first. decorated first.

POTTERYPOTTERY

The most common technique of The most common technique of decoration means using a cow’s horn decoration means using a cow’s horn with a goose feather on top. with a goose feather on top.

The colour goes through the horn to the The colour goes through the horn to the goose feather. Thus we have a real pen. goose feather. Thus we have a real pen. The delicate decoration can be obtained The delicate decoration can be obtained by using a small stick and boar hairs. by using a small stick and boar hairs.

POTTERYPOTTERY

Another type of decoration can Another type of decoration can be obtained with a metallic tip, be obtained with a metallic tip, after dipping it into colour. after dipping it into colour.

Another technique, common in Another technique, common in the south of Romania, is the the south of Romania, is the application of some cords, belts application of some cords, belts or roses of paste. or roses of paste.

CENTRES OF CERAMICS IN ROMANIACENTRES OF CERAMICS IN ROMANIA

CERAMICS FROM HOREZU CERAMICS FROM HOREZU Horezu Ceramics centre appeared Horezu Ceramics centre appeared

at the end of XVIIIat the end of XVIIIth th century and it century and it is considered to be the most is considered to be the most important ceramics centre from important ceramics centre from Romania. It was specialized in Romania. It was specialized in making bowls and trays and then making bowls and trays and then it diversified its production by it diversified its production by introducing cups, flower pots and introducing cups, flower pots and jars.jars.


CERAMICS FROM HOREZUCERAMICS FROM HOREZU Horezu pots have been made to Horezu pots have been made to

be used mainly by noble families. be used mainly by noble families. The decorations that are used at The decorations that are used at

Horezu are the vegetal (fir tree, Horezu are the vegetal (fir tree, clover, stalks), geometric (zig-clover, stalks), geometric (zig-zag, dots, lines) and others like: zag, dots, lines) and others like: the rooster, the sun, the church, the rooster, the sun, the church, the spiral and the fish.the spiral and the fish.

CENTRES OR CERAMICS IN ROMANIACENTRES OR CERAMICS IN ROMANIA

CERAMICS FROM HOREZUCERAMICS FROM HOREZU


CERAMICS FROM VAMACERAMICS FROM VAMA What is predominant for the Ceramics What is predominant for the Ceramics

from Vama is the use of green, yellow from Vama is the use of green, yellow and brown, the motifs being mainly and brown, the motifs being mainly geometrical (lines, circles, spirals) and geometrical (lines, circles, spirals) and floral. The main types of objects are floral. The main types of objects are those used in the house: pots for milk, those used in the house: pots for milk, sarmale, jugs, bowls, plates. At present sarmale, jugs, bowls, plates. At present there is only one potter who produces there is only one potter who produces this type of ceramics, in the village this type of ceramics, in the village Vama.Vama.


CERAMICS FROM VAMACERAMICS FROM VAMA


CERAMICS FROM OBOGACERAMICS FROM OBOGA The ceramics from Oboga (south of The ceramics from Oboga (south of

Romania) is characterized by the Romania) is characterized by the colors brown, green and yellow. The colors brown, green and yellow. The most representative products are the most representative products are the plates with floral motifs (the tree of plates with floral motifs (the tree of life, the acorn) or zoomorphic motifs life, the acorn) or zoomorphic motifs (the peacock, the rooster, the fish) (the peacock, the rooster, the fish) and also the famous wedding jugs, and also the famous wedding jugs, made exclusively in this region. made exclusively in this region.


CERAMICS FROM OBOGACERAMICS FROM OBOGA


CERAMICS FROM BAIA MARECERAMICS FROM BAIA MARE The ceramic objects of this type The ceramic objects of this type

are cobalt-blue, decorated with are cobalt-blue, decorated with white motifs but also with brown, white motifs but also with brown, yellow, green. There is a wide yellow, green. There is a wide variety of products, from plates variety of products, from plates (of different sizes) to bowls, (of different sizes) to bowls, water jugs, small cups, jugs, water jugs, small cups, jugs, candlesticks etc.candlesticks etc.


CERAMICS FROM BAIA MARECERAMICS FROM BAIA MARE

VISIT TO A POTTERY WORKSHOPVISIT TO A POTTERY WORKSHOP

In the framework of the project In the framework of the project we organized a documentary we organized a documentary visit to a pottery workshop from visit to a pottery workshop from our region. our region.


The potter makes a demonstrationThe potter makes a demonstration


The potter presents the techniqueThe potter presents the technique


Students working Students working


Students workingStudents working


Students’ final productsStudents’ final products

TRADITIONAL ROMANIAN CRAFTS TRADITIONAL ROMANIAN CRAFTS

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traditional romanian crafts

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romania pottery

pottery wheels

pottery kilns

pottery workshops

dacoroman pottery

early practice of pottery

roman world

roman army