Clip 8 (of 13), Gakoigo pottery village, coil building

The process is really rolling now. Margaret on the left and her colleague on the right are moving the clay with such directness and energy. These are the base sections being drawn to a close - to form the perfect dome, for embedding in hot embers, that so effectively transfers the heat to the food. The clay is exceptional; a coarse and plastic body, which they handle very wet. The addition of extra water during the building process makes the process akin to throwing. I also love the way their searching