Pottery has a Grand History in Vietnam and is Still Popular

Pottery happens to be a recognized form of art in Vietnam. The land’s history of pottery goes back to thousands of years s suggested by various archaeological discoveries, even before the Chinese domination of Vietnam. Pottery Vietnamese chiefly comprises ceramic pottery, although clay is another popular medium for this art form. After the Chinese domination, pottery in Vietnam was greatly influenced by Chinese ceramic pottery, although the art form has undergone many indigenous developments over the course of time.

History behind Pottery in Vietnam and the Archaeological Discoveries:

It is already known to you that pottery is a tradition in Vietnam. There are many archaeological discoveries which suggest this.

• Cát Tiên: In the Cát Tiên Archaeological Site, discovered in 1985, a number of ceramic wares of an unknown civilization dating back to the 4^th and 9^th Centuries CE were found.
• Bát Tràng: This village has been one of the major centers for Pottery Vietnamese since the 14^th Century. Till date, it has been manufacturing and supplying pottery throughout Vietnam and even worldwide. In the past centuries, pottery from Bát Tràng was renowned in Vietnam and the others Isles of Indochina. The pottery was spread by local traders and merchants as well as by European ships which took them back to the western countries. Bát Tràng is located near Hanoi in an area which is rich in clay that is best suited for fine ceramic pottery. Till this day, Bát Tràng continues to produce bowls, pots, dishes, vases, etc. Most of the products are baked in gas ovens, which are replacing electric and traditional wood ovens. Despite the modernization of the processes involved in obtaining the raw material and transporting the finished products to the markets, the methods used in making the pottery is still largely by hand. This makes the products more exotic.
• An nan: There are lots of potteries which have been discovered outside Vietnam that have distinct Vietnamese features. One of the most famous of these discoveries were the An ´nan pots which were discovered in Japan. These pots and bowls were used in tea ceremonies in Japan. There were also some high-footed bowls in the discovery which were presumably used for food.
• HỘi An Wreck: The HỘi An ship was carrying a large cargo of potteries and had sunk some 22 miles off the coast of mainland Vietnam in the mid 15^th Century. In 1983, the discovery was made which comprised of a large number of Pottery Vietnamese. These pieces were thought to have originated from the Kilns near the Red River Delta.
• Along with these, there have been modern sources of production of Vietnamese Pottery. Besides Bát Tràng, Lái Thêiu also has many factories producing modern Pottery Vietnamese.

Types of Modern Vietnamese Pottery:

• Outdoor Glazed Pottery
• Black Clay Pottery
• Concrete
• Terracotta Pottery
• Ceramic Pottery
• Lightweight Cement Pottery

The intricate designs of certain Pottery Vietnamese and simplicity of other potteries make for excellent showpieces and home decor. It increases the aestheticism of any modern household.