Pottery is the most ecologically clean type of tableware. Food served in pottery keeps its taste and smell longer, as well as its useful properties.
The people of the North Caucasus believe that pottery has all the energy of the sun and earth and wind accumulated by the clay it’s made of, so the food tastes better and is healthier if cooked in ceramic utensils.
Archaeologists believe that pottery was highly developed among the Nakh people. Chechen craftsmen are known for their beautiful glazed ceramics adorned with geometric and floral patterns. Their pottery is made in many different shapes, all suited for particular products: jugs with narrow throats for oil and jugs with wide throats for milk, etc. Products of Chechen artisans have always been in great demand.
Today only a few carry on the traditions of Chechen ceramic-making. For example, Ibragim Apaev studied the craft in Azerbaijan and Georgia and has now opened his own small enterprise in Chechnya and hopes to prevent the fine art of ceramics from disappearing in his Republic. Ibragim fires the clay in a wood stove, just like his great-grandfather did, as it is still the best way to make beautiful ceramic dishes and souvenirs adorned with floral designs.
People like Ibragim hope to get some assistance from the state for their cause of saving Chechen traditions. They hope to restore the pottery industry of the Republic, thus adding a whole new source of budget revenue. In the past, the ‘Duba-Jurt’ ceramics factory was one of the symbols of Chechnya, and it’s products were sold not only on Russia, but in England, Italy and Cuba as well. Now it’s directors are planning to re-launch production.
The head of the factory, Siradji Bagaev, told VK that for now they are negotiating with German and Italian experts, who seem to be interested in the factory and its projects. The Chechen pottery industry needs investment and equipment, but in its turn it can offer unusually high-quality clay.
The rebirth of the ‘Duba-Jurt’ ceramics factory will not only restore one of Chechnya's traditional industries, but also create some 200 jobs and promote tourism, so the Chechen parliament supports the project.
Timur Utsaev, exclusively to VK.
