Moroccan Pottery
Moroccan souks are dotted with colorful pottery: cups, pots, vases sit for sale alongside tagines, the conical shaped cooking pots widely used in Moroccan cuisines. And even though the most famous pottery centers are Fes and Safi, one could easily find pottery workshops all over the Moroccan countryside.
Into those small workshops, people work the clay as they did decades ago. Slowly and patiently, they twirl the clay on the different wheels to give it shape. They then let the clay creations dry in the sun, a long process followed by the painting and glazing of pottery.
Their decoration is usually influenced by the Islamic or Berber art; geometric design, arabesque patterns and red, blue, white, and green shades create what it is to be a four century tradition.
Pottery is not only a long tradition in Morocco rather than a form of art and social expression. Even though, pottery grew out as a need for cooking, it has now transformed into one of the most famous Moroccan ritual.
Entire families pass on secret recipes about patterns and color creations to the next generations, creating distinct workshops schools. Workshops are usually open to public and found all over the country. By going in, one would have the chance to see how clay is transformed to beautiful pieces of art. Just enter, and take a look at the past and the future; clay has always been a distinct Moroccan tradition.
Photos by Eleni Kapousouz
