Artisan of the pot village

(Baonghean.vn) - When you come to the pot village of Tru Son commune (Do Luong), if you ask about Mrs. Pham Thi Hong, everyone will know her, because she is not only an elderly person with many years of experience in the profession, but her skillful hands are among the best in the village...

Mr. Hong (Hamlet 11) comes from a family of traders but has loved and been attached to the profession of making pots since childhood until now. In the past, when the pot village was prosperous, his family was one of the largest establishments making clay pots in the village. Now, the children have grown up, only the couple live together, and they are old, the family does not make and burn clay pots like before, but remembering the profession, he still goes to work for other families.

76 years old, more than 60 years in the profession of making clay pots, but Mr. Hong's hands are still skillful, every day still diligently making durable and beautiful products.

According to Mr. Hong, the craft of making clay pots has many stages: kneading clay, breaking, repairing, drying, cooking... in which making clay and cooking pots is the work that requires the most effort. Thanks to his skillful hands, carefulness and productivity, the villagers often hire him to do the work, mainly breaking, repairing, and finishing the products.

He can make many different types of clay pots such as: fish stew pots, large pots, medicine pots, charcoal pans, roasting pots... Although they do not have molds, all of them are round and of good quality. The most difficult product to make in the clay pot craft is the pot lid. In the whole village, only a few people can make it beautifully, including Mr. Hong.

Despite his “old age”, he is still healthy and alert. When he makes pots, his two hands rub the soil and hold the pot, while his big toes push the turntable rhythmically. All his movements are quick, precise and skillful.

His rough, wrinkled hands have been involved in making clay pots for more than half a century, and are nicknamed “golden hands” by the villagers. Every month, he can make thousands of products of various shapes and sizes.

Ms. Luu Thi Khang (Hamlet 11), who often hires Mr. Hong to make pots, said: "Every time I come to her house, she sits down and works until she leaves. I have never seen her complain of fatigue or back pain. She works hard and beautifully, so everyone wants to hire her. It seems like she works for one house all year round and then goes to work for another." Seeing Mr. Hong working and chatting happily with people around her, everyone admires her health, skills and love for her job.

Every day, depending on the size of the pot, he can make from 80 to 100 products. Every month, he makes thousands of clay pots of all shapes and sizes. He works for others, comes home for lunch and dinner, and his daily wage is about 100,000 VND. He does not accept any more money. He said: "I work for fun in my old age, I cannot stand sitting around doing nothing. God has given me the health to be able to make pots like this, I am very happy."

Big pots, roasting pots, and charcoal pans made by Mr. Hong at Mrs. Luu Thi Khang's house (village 11)

Currently, in hamlets 10 and 11 of Tru Son commune, there are dozens of families making clay pots, but the person with more than 60 years of experience in the profession and still doing a good job like Mr. Hong seems to be the only one.

In recent years, the village's clay pot craft has flourished again, with more buyers. Every house regularly has hundreds, thousands of clay pots neatly arranged throughout the house, yard, and porch, more or less bearing Mr. Hong's handprints. Mr. Hong shared his passion: "I haven't thought about retiring yet, my child. I just keep working until I can't do it anymore." No organization or agency has recognized him, but the villagers still respect and admire him, calling him "Artisan of the pot village".

Huy Thu