A Trip Around the World in Five Pots
Seek out these ceramics traditions in your summer travels—or consider their contemporary alternatives, instead.
Seek out these ceramics traditions in your summer travels—or consider their contemporary alternatives, instead.
On every trip I take, I have the same goal: Bring home a locally made ceramic. From Mexico City: a cream vase, emblazoned in black with a tropical bird. From Saint-Malo, Normandy: a teal pedestal bowl that was a splurge during a summer abroad in college. From Stockholm, a tiny polka-dotted, cube-shaped dish, discovered at a co-op I came across on Hornsgatan.
Pottery is a craft nearly as old as humankind and one you can find in every corner of the world, from the terra-cotta pots of Nonthaburi, Thailand, to earthenware dishes from Pomaire, Chile. You can easily find modern handmade wares just about anywhere, but for a true pottery pilgrimage, seek out locales where the tradition runs deep, where the history of the place is intertwined with shaping the land into vessels for daily life. Here, we’ve mapped a global tour for potheads that will take you from the rocky ravines of Italy’s boot to the dusty edge of the Sahara Desert and beyond. Just don’t forget to pack an extra bag in which to take your goods home.
La Chamba, Colombia
Lest you think black dishware is a new trend (and you might, based on its popularity in the last few years), the women of La Chamba, Colombia, have been crafting inky, satin-finished pots and tabletop pieces for centuries. The tradition began in this tiny village, located about 100 miles southwest of Bogotá in the Magdalena River valley, between the Colombian Andes. Pijao people made vessels for ceremonial and domestic uses, and today, just over 85 percent of the village’s population is dedicated to the craft, which is one of 28 Colombian agricultural and handicraft products with a protected designation of origin.
The ceramics are made from a combination of three types of clay. Pieces are hand-formed and covered with a red glaze; after a few rounds of drying and varnishing, the pots are then dried in the sun and meticulously polished with agate stones until each pot squeaks. The black color comes not from the firing process, which takes place in metal barrels inside a kiln, but what happens when they’re pulled out. Organic matter like rice husks (or, traditionally, treated donkey manure) gets added to the white-hot barrels to catch fire and is left to smoke as the pots cool. The smoke permeates the pots, leaving a glossy noir finish.
While contemporary ceramists aren’t smoking pots, many produce similarly sleek black pieces. Sumptuous bowls and chubby pitches by Faye Toogood have a similar feel, while Danny Kaplan’s sculptural vases and candlesticks bring a bit of edge to the classic black shade.
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Oval Roaster by Chamba Imports
Available in 2 quart up to 10 quart pots, the all-natural oval roaster with cover can be used in the oven, on the stovetop, to roast chicken and vegetables, or to heat a hearty beef stew. The Chamba clay oval roaster is a non-toxic piece of kitchen cookware that is a must-have to keep on hand for holiday parties, special events, and homemade meals.
Bowl with One Handle by Chamba Imports
This 14 ounce Chamba bowl features a handle with an opening for convenient hanging in limited spaces. Our unique, all-natural Colombian black clay soup bowl will serve hot stews and soups on a cold night with a touch of class. The versatile serving bowl with handle is also a wonderful way to serve rice and side dishes, and is a great piece to add to your collection.
Ajiaco Bowl with Flat Bottom by Chamba Imports
With a flat bottom and curved edges for easy carrying, our handmade ajiaco bowl seamlessly moves from the stove or oven to the table. This non-toxic Colombian clay bowl was designed based on the traditional bowl used for ajiaco, and is a perfect serving bowl for your favorite vegetable soup, beef stew, or classic rice dish. The versatile bowl is also great dinnerware to use for side dishes or to reheat leftovers, and is a must-have piece for the conscientious cook's collection.
Ancient Cookware Rounded Chamba Soup Pot, Small
The Rounded Soup Pot is perfect for slow cooking soups, stews, and casseroles. The round shape is better suited for gas ranges or open fire, and evenly distributes the heat up the sides. Since clay is a natural and porous material, it does not react with the food and causes a slow evaporation of steam from the pores that promotes a smooth and even boil. The moist enclosed interior results in food that is healthier and tastier as it requires less fat and liquids. The beautiful black finish makes for a great presentation for family style service.
Charcoal Dough Bowl by Faye Toogood
A stoneware bowl for serving or display with a flat center and gently rounded edges. Finished in a matte charcoal glaze featuring a subtle, speckling effect. Designed by Faye Toogood as part of the Dough ceramics collection, named for the common ground of kneading in both baking and pottery. Hand-shaped in the Toogood studio in London before being cast in stoneware, the collection plays with rounded, swelling forms evocative of rising dough. The dimensions of the bowl are 13" in diameter and 3.25" in height.
Charcoal Dough Jug by Faye Toogood
A chunky serving jug with an outsized handle cast in stoneware. Finished in a matte charcoal glaze featuring a subtle, speckling effect. Designed by Faye Toogood as part of the Dough ceramics collection, named for the common ground of kneading in both baking and pottery. Hand-shaped in the Toogood studio in London before being cast in stoneware, the collection plays with rounded, swelling forms evocative of rising dough. The dimensions of the jug are 8" in length, 5.5" in width, and 7.75" in height. It holds 42 oz.
Serve Bowl by Danny Kaplan
Decorative stone bowl for use with dry goods.
Low Footed Bowl by Danny Kaplan
Decorative stone bowl for use with dry goods.
Tamegroute, Morocco
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