Grinding clay (1/2) in Quế An village : Hammering

Giang Ngọc Xanh, the potter’s husband, brings the dried clay into the workshop and spread it on the floor. He hammers it first with a shovel. Then, sitting on a low stool, he breaks down the clay into small pieceswith a big wooden mallet called cái chai. In the past, He would hammer until the clay had a powdered consistency. Nowadays, he stops when the chunks are about 5-7cm in diameter. Once he is done, he stores the clay nearby the machine that he will later on use to crush it to powder.