Gondar Black Clay Bowl

Name: Gondar Black Clay Bowl
Brand: Ra-Ro
SKU: 06PT07CTE00012
Price: 36.20 EUR
Availability: InStock

36,20 €

Ships immediately · dispatched within 48h

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Traditional clay is fired. Gondar's dark clay is forged. Forged from the fire of the soenga, a technique invented by local artisans in the early 17th century, where a traditional open-air fire bursts into flames reaching a temperature of 1000ºC, infusing the clay pieces with black smoke that gives them their historically unique hue.

Read the story of the piece

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Handmade byCésar Teixeira

Dimensions

Diameter > 30 cm
Height > 15 cm

Care

Handling
Due to the unique, handcrafted nature of this piece, please handle it with care to avoid accidental knocks or drops. Avoid sudden changes in temperature, as this can cause cracking.

Storage
If used for decorative purposes, use a dry cotton cloth or soft brush to remove dust.

Store in a safe place where it is protected from possible impacts.

Shipping and returns

Shipping time: Within 48 hours

We ship to Portugal, the rest of Europe, the US, Canada and Brazil. You have 30 days to return the piece free of charge. Payment is secure and encrypted.

Gondar black clay

Gondar Black Clay Bowl

A wide bowl in Gondar black clay, with the smoke of the soenga on its surface.

Story of the piece

Gondar Black Clay Bowl

A dark clay piece born from an ancestral fire.

Traditional clay is baked. The dark clay of Gondar is forged. Forged from the fire of the soenga, a technique invented by local artisans in the early 17th century, where an outdoor, traditional fire bursts into flames that reach a temperature of 1000ºC, infusing the clay pieces with black smoke, giving them their historically unique hue.

As you read this, César Teixeira and his son João, from the village of Gondar (Minho, Portugal) are among the very last who still conjure the soenga to make elegant, mysterious, dark clay pieces like this Bowl (alguidar) - utilitarian and decorative, however it suits your taste.

In numbers

The piece in facts.

Height15cm

With a diameter of 30 cm.

Fire temperature1000°C

The open-air soenga fire reaches 1000 °C.

Origin of the soengaXVIIcentury

A technique invented by Gondar's artisans in the early 17th century.

See the piece

See every detail.

Overview

The whole piece

A traditional form, darkened by the soenga smoke.

1
Decorative bandA row of impressed marks around the body.
2
Notched rimSmall marks cut along the lip.
3
Smoke marksThe soenga smoke leaves unique tones on every piece.

Interior

Inside

The interior keeps the marks of the wheel and the fire.

1
Wheel linesRings left by the manual wheel as the clay was shaped.
2
Notched rimSmall marks cut along the lip.
3
MouthA rounded lip, shaped on the manual wheel.

The technique

ABOUT SOENGA

Soenga is a technique invented by Gondar artisans in the 17th century, where a traditional open-air fire reaches 1000°C, infusing the clay pieces with black smoke that gives them their historically unique hue.

See this maker’s pieces

Meet the Producer

THE GUARDIAN OF SOENGA

César Teixeira is one of the last active soenga masters, preserving a 17th-century craft that transforms clay into art pieces darkened by fire, with the help of his son João.

discover the story

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