How Zlakusa pottery is made

Zlakusa pottery is made from a mixture of clay and calcite in a roughly 1:1 ratio, shaped by hand on a slow potter's wheel and fired on an open flame without glaze. The whole process, from preparing the raw material to the finished vessel, takes seven to ten days.

The steps of making

1. 01

   Preparing the paste

   Clay and calcite are crushed and mixed in a roughly 1:1 ratio until a smooth, plastic paste suitable for shaping is obtained.

2. 02

   Shaping on the wheel

   The potter shapes the vessel by hand on a slow wheel turned by themselves — no mould and no electric drive. Each piece is unique.

3. 03

   Decorating

   While the clay is still soft, geometric patterns are added with wooden or metal tools, and handles are added to some vessels.

4. 04

   Drying

   The shaped vessel is air-dried for several days. As the water evaporates, the vessel shrinks noticeably.

5. 05

   Open-fire firing

   Finally the vessel is fired on an open flame. Without glaze, the colour and strength come only from the material and the fire.

Why clay and calcite

Calcite is the key ingredient that lets Zlakusa vessels withstand direct heat. Without it, an ordinary clay pot would crack on the fire. It is exactly this mixture, known to the masters for generations, that makes Zlakusa pottery cookware rather than a mere decorative object.