A field of traditional clay pots in Mandalay, Myanmar 15 Feb 2017
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Clay pots are removed from home-made kilns, built in the centre of villages and towns throughout Mandalay, Myanmar, after baking for three or four days.
Mud from paddy fields is washed into rivers and churned by fast currents before being hand dug and mixed with sand. A man and woman will work together to shape the clay on a spinning wheel; the man will operate the food pedal, turning the table, while a woman shapes the clay. Beaters then use mallets, each with a different design, to decorate and add texture to the shaped pots.
Kilns are built every day after 1,000 pots have been produced. A layer of straw rests on the floor and is covered in firewood. Pots are stacked high on top of the firewood and the mound is covered with mud, ash and straw.
Traditional clay pots from Myanmar are used to carry water or grain and sometimes to house potted flowers. Spot the pots scattered throughout Mandalay on Insight Guides' Myanmar In-Depth trip.
