Artisans struggle to revive Duong Dong pottery

The only person who keeps the soul of the homeland

Duong Dong is an ancient village from the time of Hung Kings, formerly a commune of Thuy Duong district, Kinh Mon prefecture, Hai Duong province; now a village of Minh Tan commune, Thuy Nguyen district, Hai Phong city.

Hundreds of years ago, Duong Dong was famous for its traditional pottery craft.

Artisan Vu Manh Huy is still working hard on his hometown's handmade pottery craft.

In Duong Dong, there are floating islands on the Gia River - a tributary flowing into the Bach Dang River. On these floating islands, there is a type of "bamboo village peach blossom" soil that is sticky and can be naturally colored. In addition, the clay at the foot of Duong Dong mountain creates a smooth Chu ceramic that cannot be found anywhere else.

With the soil favored by nature and the talented hands of Duong Dong people, Duong Dong pottery is famous far and wide. For a long time, Duong Dong pottery products were essential household items for many families in the North such as bowls, plates, vases, water hyacinths, jars...

In the early 60s of the last century, the locality established Minh Khai Ceramic Cooperative with over 1,000 members specializing in the production of ceramic drainage pipes to supply many localities to serve the people's lives in the great socialist northern rear. Along with the activities of the Cooperative, many families have their own ceramic kilns, regularly burning fire in the midst of the local traditional craft.

However, in the early 1990s, Duong Dong pottery could not compete with similar products from the Chinese market. The pottery profession in Duong Dong gradually declined, and the pottery cooperative also disbanded.

Artisan Vu Manh Huy and sculptor The Phong put ceramic statues into the kiln.

Born and raised in a family with a tradition of making pottery, with a father who is a famous potter in the area, artisan Vu Manh Huy is currently the only person in Duong Dong who is still passionate about pursuing and living with the ancient pottery of his ancestors.

Passionate about the profession, right after graduating from high school, Huy traveled to other famous pottery villages in the North to learn more. In 2007, when the local government had a policy to restore the old craft village, he and another potter joined hands to establish Duong Dong Pottery Cooperative to revive the pottery profession.

During the early days of the Ceramic Cooperative, Mr. Huy ate and slept with ceramics for weeks at the old workshop left behind by the craft village. He devoted all his energy and eagerly awaited the first batch of Duong Dong ceramics after decades of the fire of his hometown craft being extinguished.

"Back then, I was so dedicated to my job that my wife gave birth to our second son and it was a week later that I saw him. Luckily, my wife was very understanding and sympathetic to my burning desire," Huy confided.

Ceramic pots and pedestals by artisan Vu Manh Huy are certified as OCOP products.

However, due to facing many difficulties, the Ceramic Cooperative was dissolved shortly after its formation, its companions gradually gave up, Mr. Huy moved the machines and tools to his family's small yard to persistently pursue his passion.

Tired of looking for a successor

After 17 years of returning to his hometown with the desire to restore the craft village, Mr. Huy built Minh Tan Fine Art Ceramic Production Facility. Mr. Huy's facility is invested thoroughly with gas-fired furnaces, soil crushers, enamel crushers, research and manufacture of plaster molds to meet the needs of making ceramic products...

Up to now, thousands of products of Minh Tan Fine Arts Ceramics Production Facility have reached customers in and outside the city, even abroad. Ceramic statues of General Le Chan, ceramic statues of King Tran Quoc Tuan, Tam Bac ceramic reliefs, Bach Dang victory reliefs, peach-shaped ceramic pots... are loved by many customers.

Artisan Vu Manh Huy continuously opens weekend experience classes to pass on his passion for the profession to future generations, with the hope of finding a successor.

Sculptor Bui The Phong shared that he greatly admires the love for the profession and the dedication to restoring the ancient pottery craft of artisan Vu Manh Huy. Mr. Huy has overcome many difficulties to create a unique entrepreneurial flame with the determination to preserve the traditional craft of his ancestors.

Currently, what Mr. Huy and other people who love Duong Dong pottery are always concerned about is how to continue, preserve and promote the traditional craft of their homeland. Therefore, in addition to production and business, he also actively teaches the craft to people who love pottery, and introduces pottery making to teenagers and students.

An antique ceramic jar from the Ly Dynasty is being completed by artisan Vu Manh Huy to be put into the kiln.

Mr. Huy said that he is training two students who are talented in pottery, supporting their finances, tuition and living expenses with the sole hope of finding someone to succeed him. The facility also regularly opens experiential classes, inviting some artists and artisans in Hai Phong City to use the pottery workshop as a free creative camp.

However, after nearly 10 years of diligently passing on the craft, many people who came to the pottery workshop to work for a while then quit the profession to pursue other jobs. Because "first soil, second wood", this profession is hard and strenuous, and requires perseverance, so young people are often afraid.

"I am willing to pass on and transfer all my experience and technology to those who are truly passionate about the profession to keep the passion alive. If they truly pursue their passion, I think they will be able to support their families and themselves," said artisan Vu Manh Huy.

Source: https://www.baogiaothong.vn/nghe-nhan-tran-tro-de-hoi-sinh-gom-duong-dong-192241003170507927.htm