Watch a traditional potter in 1969 Cyprus shape clay using ancient, manual techniques.
In short: This archival footage captures a potter in Lapithos, Cyprus, demonstrating the meticulous craft of hand-forming a bowl on a wheel. It offers a rare, unfiltered look at mid-century Mediterranean ceramic traditions, from shaping the rim to applying intricate decorative finishes.
Filmed on June 27, 1969, in the town of Lapithos, this reel documents the specific technical stages of pottery production. The artisan begins by hand-forming a flat bowl on a wheel, carefully crafting a ledge along the lip. The process continues with manual scalloping of the ledge using only the potter's fingers.
The video further explores decorative methods, including the application of clay to the pot's side to create a stucco-like texture. Finally, the footage shows the stenciling and painting of a design onto a previously fired pot, utilizing carbon dust and hand-held brushes to achieve the final aesthetic.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Cyprus 1969 Reel 62 of 65
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