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The African potters, primarily women, have expressed their creativity throughout history in many different forms. From bowls and dishes to entire communities built with clay, they often create art without the advancements such as nail hole filler or texturing tools that many a first-world potter enjoys. Their art contains both functionality for every day living and, with its decorative forms, an ongoing commitment to the creative spirit.
If there is one way to describe the work ethic of African potters it is this: Keep it Simple. They used the most basic tools to create awe-inspiring art. Absent are kilns, lead-free glazes and wheels. Potters in the rest of the world could take note from these potters uncanny understanding of the elements of locally dug clay. Not only does the sale of their wares help support their family and community, but has a basic function in tribal life such as carrying water from one place to another or food storage.
You won't find overglazes in African pottery, but there are some standout characteristics of note that you might want to incorporate into your own African-inspired pottery creations. This style of pottery is typically hand-made, unglazed, round-based and flared at the neck of the pot. The round-based pots are easier to secure into the ground, keeping with the construction of their homes, many of which feature uneven floors. By flaring the pot at the neck, it can also be hung rather easily in a sling or on the wall. Since there are not polished surfaces, the contents of the pot maintain a cooler temperature thus preserving the sometimes-perishable contents of the pot.
As a generalization, African women potters begin their creations straight out of a hole in the earth. From there, they continue the process by working around the hole, enhancing and adding, forming and smoothing, until the pot shape comes together. From here the decoration ranges from fishes to snakes, tribe to tribe, reflecting both the artist as an individual and the community where she makes art.
Before you begin your African-inspired pot, you might want to take a trip to the library and do a little bit of research. While there are many commonalities among African potters, there are an unlimited amount of styles and methods to learn from and inspire your future creations. By making your project by hand-this includes slabbing, coiling and the majority of the moulding-you will be staying true to the foundations of African pot making.
