Photos: From mother to daughter, Tunisia potters pass on ancestral know-how | Hindustan Times
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Photos: From mother to daughter, Tunisia potters pass on ancestral know-how

Updated On May 16, 2019 03:17 PM IST

Women from Sejnane in northern Tunisia are keeping alive an ancient tradition of creating pottery with all-natural materials. The region is also planning to build a museum and training centre to preserve its local know-how. But the young Tunisians mostly prefer black ink and chemicals, rather than take the time to collect and extract natural materials.

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Sabiha Ayari, a Tunisian potter in her fifties, works in the village of Sejnane in the northern Tunisian province of Bizerte. She is among the women keeping alive an ancient tradition of creating pottery with all-natural materials. Using skills handed down from generation to generation, she extracts red and white clay from local wadis to craft terracota artefacts, such as dolls and animal figurines as well as cooking utensils for the kitchen. (Fethi Belaid / AFP) expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on May 16, 2019 03:17 PM IST

Sabiha Ayari, a Tunisian potter in her fifties, works in the village of Sejnane in the northern Tunisian province of Bizerte. She is among the women keeping alive an ancient tradition of creating pottery with all-natural materials. Using skills handed down from generation to generation, she extracts red and white clay from local wadis to craft terracota artefacts, such as dolls and animal figurines as well as cooking utensils for the kitchen. (Fethi Belaid / AFP)

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Pottery crafted in Sejnane is displayed at a souvenir shop. Sejnane has plans to build a museum and training centre to preserve its local know-how. The pottery, mostly cream-coloured with black and red motifs, was added in 2018 to the prestigious “Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity” of UNESCO, the United Nations cultural organisation. (Fethi Belaid / AFP) expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on May 16, 2019 03:17 PM IST

Pottery crafted in Sejnane is displayed at a souvenir shop. Sejnane has plans to build a museum and training centre to preserve its local know-how. The pottery, mostly cream-coloured with black and red motifs, was added in 2018 to the prestigious “Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity” of UNESCO, the United Nations cultural organisation. (Fethi Belaid / AFP)

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Ayari seen mixing the clay with crushed brick, prepared by her sister-in-law, to strengthen the raw material. The bricks are a rare nod to modern methods, as in the past shattered old pots were used. After a days long drying process, the pots are varnished with a thin coat of white clay. Some are then decorated with red-ochre earth. (Fethi Belaid / AFP) expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on May 16, 2019 03:17 PM IST

Ayari seen mixing the clay with crushed brick, prepared by her sister-in-law, to strengthen the raw material. The bricks are a rare nod to modern methods, as in the past shattered old pots were used. After a days long drying process, the pots are varnished with a thin coat of white clay. Some are then decorated with red-ochre earth. (Fethi Belaid / AFP)

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Seated in her lean-to overlooking the family lands, she scoops up the clay and spends most of her time fashioning utensils as well as stylised tortoises and horses. The women of Sejnane make and decorate their artisan pottery with natural elements from the agricultural region. (Fethi Belaid / AFP) expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on May 16, 2019 03:17 PM IST

Seated in her lean-to overlooking the family lands, she scoops up the clay and spends most of her time fashioning utensils as well as stylised tortoises and horses. The women of Sejnane make and decorate their artisan pottery with natural elements from the agricultural region. (Fethi Belaid / AFP)

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Pottery crafted in Sejnane is displayed at a souvenir shop. Sejnane has plans to build a museum and training centre to preserve its local know-how. The pottery, mostly cream-coloured with black and red motifs, was added in 2018 to the prestigious “Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity” of UNESCO, the United Nations cultural organisation. (Fethi Belaid / AFP) expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on May 16, 2019 03:17 PM IST

Pottery crafted in Sejnane is displayed at a souvenir shop. Sejnane has plans to build a museum and training centre to preserve its local know-how. The pottery, mostly cream-coloured with black and red motifs, was added in 2018 to the prestigious “Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity” of UNESCO, the United Nations cultural organisation. (Fethi Belaid / AFP)

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There are no sophisticated tools used, no modern ovens, just the sole of a shoe for the burnishing process and a stick for decorating the pieces with the juice of leaves collected from mastic trees. The items are then heated on an open hearth fired by dried dung, turning the juice from green to black. “This is how all kitchen utensils were made when I was little,” says Ayari. “They didn’t realise the value of these objects.” (Fethi Belaid / AFP) expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on May 16, 2019 03:17 PM IST

There are no sophisticated tools used, no modern ovens, just the sole of a shoe for the burnishing process and a stick for decorating the pieces with the juice of leaves collected from mastic trees. The items are then heated on an open hearth fired by dried dung, turning the juice from green to black. “This is how all kitchen utensils were made when I was little,” says Ayari. “They didn’t realise the value of these objects.” (Fethi Belaid / AFP)

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Young Tunisians do not have the patience to learn and perfect the art, according to Ayari. They prefer to use black ink and chemicals, rather than take the time to collect and extract natural materials. Ayari has already trained her sister-in-law Khadija and given courses to several other local women. But the future is not assured. “You have to be passionate about the work. You can’t force it, you have to want it,” Khadija frets. (Fethi Belaid / AFP) expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on May 16, 2019 03:17 PM IST

Young Tunisians do not have the patience to learn and perfect the art, according to Ayari. They prefer to use black ink and chemicals, rather than take the time to collect and extract natural materials. Ayari has already trained her sister-in-law Khadija and given courses to several other local women. But the future is not assured. “You have to be passionate about the work. You can’t force it, you have to want it,” Khadija frets. (Fethi Belaid / AFP)

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