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Gondar black pottery (barro negro de Gondar) is the traditional pottery of the village of Gondar, in Amarante, shaped on a low wheel and fired in soenga, a pit smothered with pine needles and earth. It is everyday ware, such as pots, casseroles and alguidares, whose black colour comes from smoke, not paint or glaze.
Origin and history
Also called barro preto de Gondar, it is one of the few black pottery traditions still alive in Portugal. Amarante tourism dates the tradition in the parish to at least the 17th century, linked to potters from São Martinho de Mouros.
Production peaked in the mid 20th century and almost disappeared in the following decades. Today the only professional potter still working is César Teixeira, who learned in 1987 from master Manuel Teixeira through a local training programme. His son João works with him.
How it is made
The clay is kneaded and shaped on the roda baixa, a low horizontal wheel turned by hand, unlike the tall foot-driven wheels used elsewhere in the country. Once dry, it goes to the soenga: a pit dug in the ground where the pieces are heated in a fire of wood and pine needles and, when the fire reaches about 1000 °C, covered with pine needles and earth. Without oxygen, smoke penetrates the clay and turns it black.
Because it is unglazed, the piece keeps the texture of the clay and a subtle sheen. Small marks and differences of tone are traces of the fire, not defects.
Where it comes from
Gondar is a parish in the municipality of Amarante, in the district of Porto, in the Tâmega region. César Teixeira works in a former primary school in the village. In Amarante, black pottery can also be found in local craft shops.
Traditional pieces
Gondar pottery keeps a set of traditional shapes for the kitchen and the table: the caçoila (casserole), the panela (pot), the alguidar, the púcaro (cup), the chocolateira (chocolate pot), the pote, the vinagreira (vinegar jug), the cabaça (gourd) and the chestnut roaster. César Teixeira has also created his own pieces, but he preserves the shapes he learned from his master.
Where to buy
At Ra-Ro you can buy Gondar black pottery made by César Teixeira, such as the Black Clay Casserole, the Black Clay Alguidar, the Black Clay Pot, the Black Clay Jug or the Vinegar Jug. Each piece is unique and is shipped with the care handmade pottery requires.
Frequently asked questions
What is Gondar black pottery?
It is the traditional pottery of Gondar, in Amarante, shaped on a low wheel and fired in soenga. The black colour comes from the smoke that enters the clay when the pit is smothered.
Who makes Gondar black pottery today?
The potter César Teixeira, born in Gondar in 1969, together with his son João. He is the only professional potter of this tradition still working.
Where can I buy Gondar black pottery?
In Gondar, from the potter, in craft shops in Amarante or online at Ra-Ro, which sells casseroles, alguidares, pots and other pieces by César Teixeira.
