The folk artisan, Ms. Ioana Mischiu makes Horezu ceramics using a local clay. She uses traditional tools that are extremely interesting nowadays: a cow horn with a chicken feather, for decorating the ceramics; a caiță, used to build the pattern and which helps impressing the colours. Another interesting fact is that she makes her own working tools. She learned this craft from the elders and she says that this job cannot be taught, but more like stolen, by watching closely to traditional craftsmen.
Traditional patterns
The patterns used on the ceramics are specific to the area: the Horezu rooster, the life tree, the house snake, the peacock?s tail, the wheat ear and the oak leaf. All these patterns are made by the artist using just the cow horn with the chicken feather and caița for impressing the colours. First, the Horezu clay is carefully selected, being knead using a particular technique, and then the potter?s wheel is used to shape the product. The technique is the more impressive since the products are made in front of the audience. Tourists are impressed mostly by the used tools and by the handiness of the craftsman.
The art in the house
Tourists who come and watch the technique of the potter?s wheel for obtaining a final product want to purchase a Horezu ceramics object. Therefore, many pieces get in people?s houses, being more and more preferred by housewives when serving meals. The products are ecological, given that the materials used are natural. Also, the patterns used draw like a magnet the tourists, since they are special by the elaborateness and quality of works, as well as by the expressivity of their performance.
The workshop
?We attend many fairs and exhibits. The outdoor workshops are highly appreciated. We organize such workshops with children and young people and we are glad that their number is increasing. There are more and more children who want to learn the art or pottery and who wish to carry on this craft. They are very thrilled to model the clay, they find it extremely interesting to use the specific tools, especially the cow horn with the chicken feathers. The products made by them are displayed in exhibits or they can take them home? also told us the folk artisan, Ms. Ioana Mischiu.
Contact details: 0754.521.369
