Preforming bottom and surface treatment on leather-hard clay in Thanh Hà village : tools

Tools used by the potter to preform the bottom of the pot and do the surface treatment of the outer surface. Those two actions are performed one after the other, when the pots are dry enough to be place upside down on the wheel (on leather-hard clay). There are three tools : - Vòng (lit. circle/ring ; top left) : a metalic circle with and edge around 3-5mm that is pressed against the bottom of the pot. This tool does not cut off the clay, but compresses it, filling the holes and striations on the surface and creates a smooth and almost shiny surface. The action of this tool is called lãng (lit. To smooth). - Vòng (lit. circle/ring ; top right) This vòng is different than the first one. Its edge is sharpe as it is made from the blade of a saw (lưỡi cưa) of which both ends are welt together. It is used to shave the bottom of the pots to give them their round shape. The action of this tool is called gột (lit. To scrape). - Dao (lit. Knife ; bottom) is the blade of a broken knife that Nguyễn Thị Thủy uses to smooth the bottom of the pots. Compared to the vòng, the dao is used when the clay is still a bit too wet. It is now so used that the blade is curved.