Erasmus+KA2 OUR HERITAGE IS OUR TREASURE LTTA Anarita, Cyprus November, 2018

1. Ceramics & Pottery
From ancienttimes to our days

2. Ceramics is an ancient craft that has become one of the most
impressive areas of Cypriot arts and crafts thanks to the ease
of working with the materials and its widespread use in daily
life. It was first documented in Cyprus in the 9th-8th
centuries.
Products made of clay by Cypriot artists found fame in
Europe in the 14th century, namely «pitharia» (long been
used to store and transport wine, vinegar, oil or water).
Some forms of pottery (pots, vases and jugs) and their
production methods are still used today and continue to
enjoy great popularity.

3. Pottery in Cyprus dates back to the Neolithic period. Archaeologists’ findings, in
particular ceramic art facts, confirm that people were using clay items in their
everyday life at that time and even decorated their homes with them.
Ceramics were often decorated with a range of paintings and ceramic masks
were used in the rituals of pagan cults. It is thought that most impressive forms
and decorative patterns were invented as early as the Early and Middle Neolithic
period. The same period gave us numerous early terracotta statuettes, mostly of
the female form. Clay figurines were important in holy sanctuaries: the
sculptures and figures from the Ayia Irini sanctuary (750-600 BC) are especially
famous.
Dedicatory terracotta figurines
from the sanctuary of Agia Irini in
Cyprus Museum.

4. It is particularly interesting that there is a legend stating the art
of making vessels from clay was invented in Lapithos by Kiniras,
the ancient king of Paphos and founder of the cult of Aphrodite.
What about the local artists and craftspeople?
Cypriot craft workers were inspired by the world around them,
the nature of Cyprus, and influenced by the prevailing worldview
of their particular time and drew on all this to produce the
variety of forms, motifs, patterns found in their work. They
created their art and built up experience, which would go on to
form the unique, recognisable character of the local art and
crafts of the area, including pottery. All this is part of Cyprus’ rich
cultural and artistic heritage.
Each epoch had its own production site on the island, each with
different characteristics.

5. Kyrenia was historically known for its ceramics and was famous for
its highly skilful production methods. Famagusta (Varosha) had the
best ceramics artists on the island.
Varosha was one of Famagusta's most famous and flourishing
districts until 1974 and was known for its ceramic water vessels.
The main material used was a smooth yellowish clay .
Ceramics from this area often have anthropomorphic decor, with
raised decorations made from applied clay in the shape of snakes
and animals.

6. Kornos: This area is known for its traditional ceramics and pottery. The high
quality of the local products has long been recognised worldwide. For
example, products from Kornos often earn awards and top prizes at the
annual All-Greek Ceramics.
The workshops produce large wine jugs as well as milk vessels, flower pots.
The ceramics are often decorated with various engraved and or raised
images.
KORNOS & FINI
Both villages are also well-known for their ceramic
products made from red clay.

7. The master craftswomen work both in workshop cooperatives and at home on small pottery
wheels (1), manually turning it and creating their own ceramics. As she works, she gently uses
a wooden knife to even out and smooth the surfaces of the pot from the bottom upwards,
giving the pot a clear outline, removing surplus clay, and forming its top rim. When the main
body of the vessel is ready, the potter takes more clay and carefully kneads it in her hands,
rolling it into «sausages» thus creating a beautiful, convex rim at the neck (2).
1 2

8. Fini: It has been one of the four most
important pottery villages in Cyprus for
centuries. The pots produced here are made
of red clay and the main body of the pottery is
fairly porous (similar to that produced in
Kornos). However, the small locally produced
items are characterised by their pronounced
and abundant sculptural decoration with floral
and anthropomorphic motifs.

9. Lapithos: It has a different character to the
pottery described above. These methods
produced unique glazed ceramicware.
All pottery and ceramicware in Cyprus are hand-
made by individual artists. The high quality of the
final products is guaranteed by firing the ceramic
clay in a gas kiln at high temperatures. The unique
works with their characteristic textured surfaces
are created in this way and have what is called an
uneven glaze.

10. Process of making pottery
A) Soil scraping
B) Soil seiving
1. Clay Preparation

11. 2. Vessel Construction
Α) Molding Clay
B) Pottery wheels -

12. 3. Firing – Kaminiasma
After drying, all ceramicware
had to be fired in a wood-
burning kiln. Big jugs were put
in a special kiln designed for
3-9 items using a support base
and a bag to roll them in.
Pots and jugs were placed in
the kiln carefully: first the
large ones and then the small.
It took 3 days to complete the
firing.

13. Types of Vessels

14. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwcql1E06pY