All the traditional and exquisite ornaments and clay
figures we saw on display in the shops were originally handmade from the local clay
factory which was located several kilometres away from the city. The clay used for
moulding is called ‘red clay’ because obvious from its name, it is red in colour
and also because most of the clay found in the area are red clay. Some of the workers
there are as young as 13 years old. The workers at the clay factory are all given
different duties. Some are assigned to mould and carve the clay whereas the rest are in
charge of painting and varnishing it. We went straight to the main part of the factory
where we saw how the clay was skillfully moulded and carved. Most of the moulded fugures
we saw were figures of vietnamese ladies, frogs, jars and vases. From there, we headed to
the warehouse where they painted and stored their products. We discovered that the
paintings and varnishings were done mostly by the ladies and the men were in charge of
heating the figures in the kiln. The warehouse may be quite small but it is packed with
all sorts of clay products waiting to be painted and heated. Through the hands of these
skilled workers, ordinary clay is made into beautiful ornaments which is then sold at the
shops in the city.
A local Vietnamese worker carefully carving designs on each
pot...
Pouring the
"liquid" clay into mouldsCarving designs and patterns
All the traditional and exquisite ornaments and clay
figures we saw on display in the shops were originally handmade from the local clay
factory which was located several kilometres away from the city. The clay used for
moulding is called ‘red clay’ because obvious from its name, it is red in colour
and also because most of the clay found in the area are red clay. Some of the workers
there are as young as 13 years old. The workers at the clay factory are all given
different duties. Some are assigned to mould and carve the clay whereas the rest are in
charge of painting and varnishing it. We went straight to the main part of the factory
where we saw how the clay was skillfully moulded and carved. Most of the moulded fugures
we saw were figures of vietnamese ladies, frogs, jars and vases.
From there, we headed to
the warehouse where they painted and stored their products. We discovered that the
paintings and varnishings were done mostly by the ladies and the men were in charge of
heating the figures in the kiln. The warehouse may be quite small but it is packed with
all sorts of clay products waiting to be painted and heated. Through the hands of these
skilled workers, ordinary clay is made into beautiful ornaments which is then sold at the
shops in the city.
