Artisanal pottery

Description

The craft of pottery in the Dominican Republic has been developing since pre-Columbian times, making with rolls by Taino artisans, an aboriginal group that inhabits the island.

There was a ceramic development in other times of our history with the arrival of African slaves who dedicated themselves to manufacturing mainly utilitarian artifacts, as did Spanish potters.

During the colonial and republican era and until the end of Creole pottery, the manufacture of pottery products consisted mainly of jars (containers to preserve fresh water), pots and burenes for the manufacture of casabe (cassaba bread) made with the roll technique, burned in rustic wood-fired ovens and with the application of a slip called guaguarey with a high iron content that gives it a reddish finish.

These pieces, which are still manufactured mostly in the communities of Higuerito and Reparadero, Espaillat province (Moca), where the first artisans emerged who made the iconic faceless dolls, with wide demand in the tourist market.

These figures, made on a wheel, initially decorated with the application of enamels in two electric kiln burns, are characterized by not having features on their faces.

In recent years (1990), Neo Taina ceramics were introduced to the tourist market, using motifs and designs from this pre-Columbian culture that emerged from the training center financed by Spanish Cooperation in the community of Yamasa, Monte Plata province.

Other ceramists who stand out are Ramon Guillen, with his Neo Taina ceramics; Thimo Pimentel, with his artistic pieces of Taino inspiration and who has held several versions of Elit Tile, an international exhibition of small format tiles; Enrique Royo, is another prominent ceramist of Argentine nationality, who manufactures various pieces with popular culture themes and Carlos Despradel, with lines of sculptural ceramics.

englishHandmade pottery

The craft of pottery in the Dominican Republic has been developed since pre-Columbian times by Taino craftswomen, an aboriginal group that inhabits the island. There was a ceramic development in other periods of our history with the arrival of African slaves who dedicated themselves to making mainly utilitarian artefacts, as did Spanish potters.

During colonial and republican times and up to the end of the colonial period, Creole pottery began to produce utilitarian articles such as "tinajas" (containers for conserving fresh water), pots and "burenes" for the manufacture of "casabe" (cassava bread) burned in wood-fired ovens and with the application of a rustic slip called "guaguarey" with a high iron content that gives it a reddish finish.

These pieces, which are still made in the communities of "Higuerito" and "Reparadero", in the province of Espaillat (Moca), where the first craftswomen who made the iconic dolls without faces were born, are in great demand in the tourist market. These figures, made on a potter's wheel, initially decorated with the application of enamel in two electric kiln burners, are characterized by the fact that they have no features on their faces.

In recent years (1990), "Neo Taina" ceramics were introduced in the tourist market, using motifs and designs of this pre-Columbian culture, which emerged from the training center financed by the Spanish Cooperation in the community of Yamasa, Monte Plata province.

Other outstanding ceramists are Ramon Guillen, with his "Neo Taina" ceramics; Thimo Pimentel, who has held several versions of Elit Tile, an international exhibition of small format tiles; Enrique Royo, another outstanding ceramist of Argentinean nationality, who makes various pieces with popular culture themes and Carlos Despradel, with lines of sculptural ceramics.