Survival is all due to the Cham, confirms Bau Truc Village People’s Committee chairman Dang Phan of the pottery that is sold out of the Phuoc Dan Commune of central Ninh Thuan Province’s Ninh Phuoc District.
Villager Phu Thi Ngui, 63, explains the effort this way: “Design, colour, size and style that meet customer demand are made possible by the combination of traditional and modern work methods,” she says.
It has also lifted productivity.
But unlike mass production, each product is hand-made to become a distinct work of art fired with the creativity and skill of each craftsman.
“We diversify our products but each decoration and pattern is unique to the Cham,” says Ngui.
Previously, Cham-made products were known for their everyday use – pots, large jars and vessels – but they lost their appeal after 1997 with the rise of plastic utensils.
The Cham craftsmen responded with a change in their production methods dividing their pottery into traditional and fine art.
The right clay
