Page 16 - DILMUN 9

Over the course of a month the kiln is packed The firing chamber is reached from above
with as many as 3,000 small items and 50 large and also from the fire pit below. After one
ones ; all piled on top of each other. When the day of cooling, the hole in the top is uncovered,
kiln is packed, the hole in the roof is sealed and the potters anxiously look down to see if
ready for the firing. The fire is started in the the firing has been a success. Two days later
early evening and for 15 hours between 45-60 the pots are cool enough to be removed.
gallons of used car oil is trickled into the fire
pit to burn. For approximately 4 hours wood A- • ■ t -
. ■ f-
and dried palm leaves are then thrown into the ■ V.
pit at 10 minute intervals. Up to 7 years ago rr -
only wood was used for the fire. There is no
temperature gauge ; the potter looks through a Y
crack at the colour of the glowing pots and
when experience tells him they are ready, the
firing stops. Two days later the pots are cool
enough to be removed. The potter climbs into
the kiln and passes out the pots which are
carried down the hill, and placed in suitable
containers ready for examination by would be
purchasers.
F'O

v v , u •• . n 11
v: V. .•
. . r I
• - £T a a:
- h*
. •

■Wf-M The decline in the trade is illustrated by
Mr the fact that Abdul Rahim, .the oldest potter
can remember when there were several more
wheels in the village feeding many more kilns
which were fired as often as twice a week. Now
there are only three potters, four wheels, one
large kiln which is fired only once a month and
a small one which he fires occasionally. Should
pottery be a dying trade in Bahrain ?
•7 •'i'U ' • . U . . 4. V*
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