Several days ago, we talked about Soufflenheim and Kougelhopfs, today we spend time on Betschdorf, only a short drive northwest of Soufflenheim.
While the sequence of posts betrays our rather conventional approach - glam first, "other" later - we must stress that Betschdorf is a great place. Even if you have spent all your money on colorful objects in Soufflenheim, do go to Betschdorf to look around.
The blue salt glazed stoneware, as seen for instance on the website of this potter, is often used to make storage containers, with a few wine or beer mugs and jugs thrown in.
You'll notice the storage use immediately if you look at the small gardens and court yards while you make you way along pottery street, the main drag. Broken or disused grey and blue lard or sauerkraut containers abound as flower pots.
They are absolutely everywhere, in contrast to the finer wares of Soufflenheim. Though Soufflenheim residents use colorful arrangements of tiles on walls or even gables of houses.
There appears to be a greater degree of specialization in Betschdorf, though some makers have a comprehensive product line. Others design and make gorgeous goblets, jugs, or figurines from their clay.
You will be surprised by how delicate and almost paper thin the masters work the material we traditionally associate with rugged, utilitarian wares.
No comments:
Post a Comment