Fashioning lids in Thanh Hà village 2/2

While normal size and large pots are made on the mechanic wheel set in motion by the potter’s assistant, small pots and lids are made on the electric wheel. For those, Nguyễn Thị Thủy works with a big lump of clay instead of coils on slab. She is centering the lump of clay on the wheel. Then, she draws it up and make several pieces out of it.. Then, Nguyễn Thị Thủy inserts her thumbs in the middle to open up the shape and forms the shape of a small bowl (10cm high ; 7cm diameter) using the fingers of her right hand on the inside and the edge of the pot between the index and middle finger of her left hand. She thins out the bottom using the index finger of her left hand. Then, she gives the pots its form. For lids, she opens up the walls of the initial shape to form the shape of a deep plate. She insterts her right index finger in the middle of the shape. This hole will not go through the lid. After shaping the lid, Nguyễn Thị Thủy thins the base until it can be removed from the main lump of clay.