The potter is smoothing the outside of a kettle pot in Quế An village

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posted on 2025-10-31, 11:37 authored by Cécile de FrancquenCécile de Francquen

The potter, Võ Thị Sương, uses a thin slice of bamboo with blunt edges, the ends of which are tied together with plastic string (cái khót). She rubs it against the walls of the kettle with water to smooth the surface.

Funding

Endangered Material Knowledge Programme

History

Session

Q35

Rights owner

Cécile de Francquen

Title alt

Người thợ gốm đang mài nhẵn phía bên ngoài ấm đun nước, ở làng Quế An

Description alt

Người thợ gốm Võ Thị Sương sử dụng một thanh tre mỏng có cạnh cùn, hai đầu được buộc lại với nhau bằng dây nhựa (cái khót). Bà ấy chà xát nó vào thành ấm cùng với nước để làm phẳng bề mặt.

Cultural group

Kinh

Participants

Võ Thị Sương

Country

Viet Nam

Place

Quế An, Quế Sơn district, Quảng Nam Province

Item/object

kettle (ấm)

Techniques of production

Ceramic-wet-smoothed, Pottery – smoothing (leather-hard clay)

Materials

Mineral-clay, Ceramic-pottery

Materials alt

Đất sét (vietnamese for clay), Đất núng (vietnamese for pottery ; literal. "earth cooked")

Cultural context/event

General production

Location

Workshop

Intent

The water re-moistens the walls of the cooking pot. The clay particles on the surface become mobile again and lodge in the rough spots created by the planning, making the surface smoother.

Date of creation

2023-04-26

Unique ID

2020SG03-Q35-0128