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By Tiago Reis, Ra-Ro co-founder · Authors
About 3 min read
In Gondar, in the heart of the Minho region, clay was never fired in closed kilns. It was fired in the open air, in pits dug into the earth, wrapped in flame and smoke. From that technique, called soenga, comes the rarest colour of this pottery: the deep black that gives its name to the black clay cruet that Ra-Ro rescued from being forgotten.
What makes this cruet so rare?
The rarity begins in the colour and ends in the hands. Each cruet is a unique piece, shaped on a low wheel and fired over live flame. No two examples are alike, because no two firings are alike. The fire decides where the smoke settles most strongly and where it leaves lighter reflections, and it is this controlled chance that signs every piece.
How is the soenga, the firing that gives the black colour, done?
The soenga is an ancestral firing, documented in Gondar since the 17th century. Instead of a kiln, pits are opened in the ground where the pieces are arranged and covered with fuel. The flames rise to around one thousand degrees and, at the right moment, the process is smothered. Without oxygen, the smoke seeps into the clay and fixes its dark, even tone. It is the smoke, not a glaze, that gives this ware its charcoal colour.
Who keeps this art alive today?
Few hands still know the secrets of the soenga. In Gondar, César Teixeira and his son João are among the last guardians of this pottery. They work the low wheel and keep alive a rhythm passed down from generation to generation, aware that each lit pit may be among the last of its kind. By choosing one of their pieces, you help ensure the gesture does not fade.
What is a black clay cruet for?
The cruet has accompanied the Portuguese table for centuries: it holds olive oil and vinegar within easy reach for seasoning. In black clay, that function gains a sculptural presence. The dark, matte surface plays against the light and turns a useful object into a point of attention, whether in an everyday kitchen or on a table set for a celebration.
How do you care for the piece?
As clay fired by the soenga, this is a sensitive ware that deserves care. Prefer washing by hand, with warm water and little detergent, and avoid sudden changes of temperature. With this simple care, the piece will stay with you for years and gain even more character with use.
Discover the story that fits in the palm of your hand and take home a piece that only the smoke of Gondar knows how to make: meet the Vinagreira de Barro Negro.
