Processing clay in Thanh Hà village: Cutting of blocks of clay in the workshop

A pile of processed clay (at the back) has been brought to the workshop some time ago and covered with plastic sheet to prevent it from drying. Right before using it, the clay has to be re-processed. Nguyễn Thị Thủy has already processed the quantity that she is going to use on that day. She now cuts out chunks of clay from that pile, using the nê, a large wooden frame, one side of which is replaced by a metallic wire. She tosses three or four of these blocks on a third pile of clay, to repeat the process a second time. The clay will be cutted into messy slices using the nê, then stepped on to ensure it is smooth enough to worked with.