The village of Zlakusa, western Serbia — a craft some four centuries old
Zlakusa Pottery
The same clay, the same fire, the same hands — a guide to pottery inscribed on the UNESCO list of intangible heritage.
Zlakusa, western Serbia
About this portal
Zlakusa.rs is an independent information and tourism portal dedicated to Zlakusa — its tradition, pottery, culture, tourism and local producers.
The portal is not the official site of the village, the municipality, any potters' association or UNESCO, and it does not sell products.
- Independent
- Informational
- Tourism
- No paid listings
From earth to vessel
Five steps unchanged for centuries — no moulds, no glaze.
- Digging the clay
- Blending with calcite
- Throwing on the wheel
- Drying in the shade
- Open-fire firing
From the workshop to the kitchen
Traditional cookware and bakeware, each with its own purpose.
The people who keep the craft
Family workshops in Zlakusa and nearby, each with its own signature.
Frequently asked questions
What is Zlakusa pottery?
Unglazed earthenware from the village of Zlakusa near Uzice, made from a mixture of clay and calcite, shaped on a hand-turned wheel and fired on an open fire. It takes a direct flame, so it is genuine cookware.
Why is calcite added to the clay?
Calcite reduces shrinkage during drying and firing and gives the vessel resistance to thermal shock — which is what lets it go on the fire without cracking.
Is the pottery glazed?
No. Zlakusa pottery is unglazed, so its colour comes from the fire rather than from any coating.
When was it inscribed by UNESCO?
On 16 December 2020, as "Zlakusa pottery making, hand-wheel pottery making in the village of Zlakusa" (reference RL/01466) - the fourth element from Serbia.