Pottery

Pottery is a demanding work, requiring special strength, skills and knowledge. Any mistake can have as a consequence the destruction of the vessel of clay; for this reason, pottery is a craft practiced more by men, women dealing more with decoration. Men pull out the clay from special places, bring it in the household and knead it with their hands, feet, or a large wooden hammer, mixing it with water. The resulting paste is cleaned of impurities, is turned into lumps and then it is worked at the wheel.

Vessel formation requires special technique and a high working speed, because the paste must not get dry (sometimes, vessel’s shape is done even in 40–50 seconds). After modeling, vessels are left to dry for a few days, in the shade and afterwards they are burned in special ovens, after they were previously ornamented and possibly glazed (the dishes are only enameled in the inside and on the margins).

The most spread decoration technique uses a cow horn having on the top a goose feather. The color flows through the horn, through the goose feather. It works like a real pen. Also, the smooth decorations can be obtained using a stick of wild boar hairs.

All the colors used are natural. The chromatic of ceramic vessels maintain ancient traditions. Horezu is famous for its red clay, with an individual chromatic, never seen elsewhere. Horezu ceramics can be first recognized from the symbolic motives used.