Walking in a circle. In a perfect circle. Around the circumference of a pedestal no more than two feet in diameter. Forwards, around and around and around. And then backwards, around and around and around. Many circles at a time.
With her hands on the clay, shaping, adjusting, perfecting. This woman, while walking in circles, made pottery. No use of a potter’s wheel necessary. She literally walked in circles around the clay, molding into a creation a beautiful piece of pottery. I watched in awe, as I have never seen this done before.
She used the magic and skill of her own hands, as well as her own feet. Something she has been perfecting quite possibly her whole life. Creating pottery, one piece at a time. She had an artist’s touch.
In Cambodia, a must-visit place is this pottery village in the province of Kompong Chhnang, translated as the “Port of Pottery.” As one walks through this village nearly every home has people working on their specialty craft. You can see pots, vases, tea sets, and other pieces of pottery in various stages of development.
I bought the brown tea set on the lower left corner of the above photo.
When the villagers have enough pieces of pottery created and completed, they pile them on this “truck,” driven by a motorcycle, and bring them to other villages and towns to sell.
I remember taking a ceramics class long ago, where I used a potter’s wheel. Seeing this woman create her pieces with her hands, and with walking in perfect circles, I thought that if I ever take up this craft again, I would like to try to create my pieces her way.
Sweet Travels!