Avanos is a small town in historic Cappadocia in Central Turkey with a population of about 35,000 people. Despite being small, this town has been famous for its making of earthenware pottery since the time of the Hittites in the Bronze Age. Today, although the town is often frequented by tourists, the ceramic trade is still very much active and remains the biggest economic activity in Avanos.
The craft of pottery and ceramic-making is a family tradition which is still passed down from generation to generation. Tradition has it that if a man could not make pottery he could not get married. It takes 6-7 years of apprenticeship to learn the trade and many started really young. In these photos Ahmet has been making ceramics for the last 30 years. Nowadays there are women who also do the intricate painting and decorations on the ceramic pieces and it's no longer a requirement for marriage for the men.
There are two types of silt that goes into their pottery making which gives it either a red or white base colour before it is painted. The red silt used comes from the banks of the nearby Kizilirmak River (also known as the Red River) which separates Avanos from the rest of Cappadocia. The white clay is from the hill regions surrounding Avanos.
The designs can be very colourful to more traditional pieces bearing the local yellow Hittite or blue Turkish designs; all beautifully handcrafted with care as it remains the pride of Avanos.
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