| 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. | |||
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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. | |||
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| To make a small vessel, a circular slab base is formed, then coils are added and smoothed to build up the walls. | |||
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| 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. | ||
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| 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! | ||
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| 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 Clay Filigree (Filigrana de Barro) of Atzompa, Oaxaca, Mexico Maya Reproductions Roof Tiles in Bali, Indonesia Recommended books: |
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Web page, photographs, and text by Carol Ventura in 2001. Please look at Carol's home page to see more about crafts around the world. |