Penguin Travels: Baltics - 18 June 2012 (4)

Traditional Latvian Crafts

Traditional Toilet

Aivars Making a Jug

Next stop was a ceramicist who made pots in the traditional way. He was called Aivars and his wife was Vasma. They seemed to do everything – not just pots – in the traditional way, living on a site which resembled a film set of rural life in the middle ages (without the cameras – except ours). I don’t think there was electricity or plumbing – if the toilet was anything to go by.

The Manual Potter's Wheel

Aivars took us into his workshop and showed us his potter’s wheel. This was a construction of two wheels on one axle. A large stone wheel lay near the ground, where he could kick it to get the smaller potter’s wheel turning. It obviously helped that Aivars was a very muscular man, who could provide the necessary manpower to operate the wheel for extended periods. He threw a jug to demonstrate his skill.

Traditional Kiln

Then we were taken to the kiln, which uses wood as a fuel source. The pots are just piled on top of each other. Aivars said this was possible as the pots were not glazed. Broken pots go on the top to keep the heat in. He said that, when the kiln was in full burn, the flames out the top were one metre high.

Traditional Pots for Sale

There was the inevitable shop, but it was not that expensive. You could buy a wind chime for LVL3.50. Vasma did pictures, especially of fish. Craig bought four or these. He also made chain mail and traditional bronze jewellery. Aija dressed up in the full traditional outfit for photos.