Persistently preserving Duong Dong pottery craft

Mr. Vu Van Huy is a rare artisan still attached to the Duong Dong pottery profession.

Keep the passion for the profession

“Whoever visits Lo Noi hamlet/ Will see the bowl shining with glaze.” While quickly carving a ceramic plate into a mold, Mr. Vu Van Huy, a rare artisan still attached to Duong Dong pottery, hummed an old song and recounted the golden age of the pottery village on the banks of the Gia River.

According to Huy, Duong Dong pottery has a history of hundreds of years. At its peak, the whole village had 12 pottery hamlets, of which the most prominent was Lo hamlet, also known as “Lo Noi hamlet”, which specialized in producing clay pots. Duong Dong people are proud of the secret of blending earth and fire to create a type of pottery with a natural pink-red color like the color of peach blossoms in spring. The pottery is fired at a moderate fire, ensuring both solidity and the crisp red-brown color of the heavy iron-rich clay that can only be produced in this land.

Duong Dong ceramic has a natural pink-red color.

In the memories of many people, Duong Dong used to be like a bustling “factory”. Every house had a pottery kiln, with red smoke burning day and night. At one point, more than 1,000 people participated in production, creating products that both served daily life and had spiritual value, supplying the market inside and outside the city. However, when industrial goods developed, the pottery profession declined rapidly. To date, there is only one household left, Mr. Vu Van Huy’s family, still keeping the profession alive.

Born into a family with four generations of pottery, Huy was fascinated by the bowls and vases red with peach blossoms since childhood. As he grew older, he became increasingly concerned about the risk of losing his father's profession. After more than 20 years of struggling to make a living in a foreign land, he decided to return to his homeland and restore his old profession. "We cannot let the traditional profession disappear. Giving up the profession would be a mistake to our ancestors and future generations," he shared.

In 2003, after studying in other pottery villages such as Bat Trang, Phu Lang, Chu Dau, etc., Huy and a friend started rebuilding the kiln. The early days were extremely difficult, with limited capital, no consumer market, and many products had to be sold under other big pottery brands. But he was not discouraged, persevering in "taking the short to feed the long". He innovated designs, combined traditional and modern elements, produced more reliefs, ceramic statues, decorative paintings, etc. Thanks to that, Duong Dong products gradually gained a new position.

In 2005, Duong Dong Pottery Cooperative was established, mobilizing people to contribute capital to expand production. With the support of the functional sector, the cooperative invested in an energy-saving kiln system and built a product display area. From here, Duong Dong Pottery began to have hope of reaching the market. Currently, Mr. Huy's pottery workshop creates jobs for 4-5 workers, who love pottery like him. The workshop's annual revenue reaches an average of more than 300 million VND/year.

Hope for resurrection

Up to now, although it has not been able to return to its golden age, the efforts of Mr. Huy and the local people have ignited the belief in the revival of the craft village. Da Chu ceramic products from teapots, vases to reliefs, ceramic paintings with the characteristic reddish brown color have appeared in many fairs and exhibitions, leaving their own mark.

For Mr. Huy, the greatest wish is not only to sell more products but also to restore the traditional craft identity. He hopes that one day, Duong Dong will become a cultural and tourist destination, where visitors can both see the pottery making process and feel the perseverance and skill of the craftsmen.

market(1).png — Duong Dong ceramic products are gradually becoming known to many people (photo provided by the facility)

“Making pottery is not easy. Earth, water, and fire must be in harmony, and the craftsman must be patient and meticulous. But it is this hardship that nurtures our love for the craft. We continue to strive to keep the fire burning so that Duong Dong pottery is not only a memory but also a source of pride today,” shared artist Pham Vuong, who accompanied Huy on his journey to restore the craft.

Mr. Vu Van Huy is considered the person who “lights the fire” for the ancient pottery village along the Gia River. From his burning passion for the traditional craft and the desire to restore a traditional craft that is gradually fading away, he has constantly persevered and steadfastly preserved his ancestors’ craft and believes that Duong Dong pottery will soon revive and the craft village will be as bustling as before./.

HAI MINH

Source: https://baohaiphong.vn/ben-bi-giu-nghe-gom-duong-dong-519133.html