|
Three clays are mixed together with water, then the mixture is pounded on a rock with a piece of wood. |
A clay bird is quickly modeled in solid clay, then the inside is hollowed out and a dish is added to the front. |
|||
|
|
|
 |
 |
Pottery in Western Cameroon, Africa
Low-fire pottery has a long history in Africa. The style varies from place to place and through time. Both functional and sculptural pottery are made in the area around Foumban, in Western Cameroon. For more information about these artists, or to purchase their work, please contact Abdou Mfopa.
Several potters demonstrate their pottery techniques, from preparing the clay to firing the pieces:
|
Three clays are mixed together with water, then the mixture is pounded on a rock with a piece of wood. |
A clay bird is quickly modeled in solid clay, then the inside is hollowed out and a dish is added to the front. |
|||
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
To make a small vessel, a circular slab base is formed, then coils are added and smoothed to build up the walls. |
|||
|
|
|
|
 |
The mouth is formed, then a piece of wet plastic tubing is used to round the lip. |
The foot has just been added. |
After firing, a varnish-like substance is sponged onto the pots several times to seal the surface and make it shine. |
||
|
|
|
|
|
 |
The inside and outside surface of dry pots are burnished with a pebble. |
The burnished pots are placed between dry palm fronds. The fronds are ignited, then wood is added. After around 20 minutes, the pots are fired! |
||
 |
|
|
|
For more information about Cameroon pottery, see "Cameroon Craft" in the July/August 2007 Ceramic Review, 226: 54-55.
Links:
African
Arts/Handicraft and Environmental Management Institute (AFHEMI)
Art-Batik
of Adehoumi Sikirou Shola
Bark
Pictures of Claude Ngaha
Dschang
Handicraft Center
Gîtes
Ruraux de l’Ouest
Wood Carving in Foumban
Cameroonian beadworking
Tapestry Crochet in
Cameroon
Cameroonian Basket Maker, Fokam
Goufo Buhler
Cameroonian Author, Mih
John Fung
Cameroonian Painter, Hilarion
Wirdzeka Faison
Nigerian Painter, Elcarver
Rotimi Agbola
Tiles and Ceramics of Seville,
Spain
Tiles and Ceramics of Talavera
de la Reina, Spain
Tiles and Ceramics of Ubeda,
Spain
Monje Ceramics of Lora
del Rio, Spain
Earthenware Tiles of
Portugal
Majolica Ceramics of Caldas
da Rainha, Portugal
Traditional Dunzi Production in Yaoli,
China
Porcelain production in Jingdezhen, China
Mexican Ceramist, Capelo
Mexican Ceramist, Angelica
Escarcega Rodriguez
Mexican Ceramist, José Luis
Méndez Ortega
Mexican Ceramists, Guevara Ceramics
Mexican Ceramist, Tecpatl
Ceramics
Maya Reproductions
Roof Tiles in Bali, Indonesia
Carol Ventura's
Home Page
Web page, photographs, and text by Carol Ventura.
