| 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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