A visitor trying her hands on making "Burnay" in Vigan yesterday.

An earthen ware locally made in Vigan, any tourist can't go to Vigan without visiting PAGBURNAYAN, the place where they are being made. This is the name sign posted in most streets so no one can't miss it.

Either a tricycle or a "kalesa" (a horse-drawn carriage) can take anyone there. It's a walking distance too from CALLE CRISOLOGO if one decides to walk. VIGAN is a small place, very compact.

Harder than terracota

As a child, these were used at the house and contains salt, sugar, even rice for bigger pots. Some were used as flower vases, flower pots even the broken ones can still be used for plants. Personally, I prefer the dark burnt ones for their dark brown to black color. Normally, they are orangy.

This industry dates back to pre-colonial times when Chinese immigrants came to settle in Vigan. Accordingly, Grade A clay were found a plenty in the Western area of Vigan...till now.

This have flourished from a few Chinese descendants. There are only 2 families now doing this.

These are old jars found at the back of the building.

Clay were mixed with fine sands, tramppled-on by a carabao (Philippine buffalo) to achieve the right consistency. No wonder we saw a carabao at the back having a bath!

Each pot or jar is done manually through a pottery wheel and a kiln, using woods. Results like the color depend on the temperature and the length of time it was in the kiln.

This is a pottery wheel without Demi Moore!

Ideally, making a jar involves 2 people, one to mold the clay, the other to spin the wheel, with his foot.

Yesterday, there were lots of visitors trying their hands on. Their creations are theirs to take home for just a donation.

A novice hands...

to a very skilled ones.

Well, I hope you enjoyed a bit of history about Vigan, and just maybe when you're in the neighborhood, you get to try making a jar for yourself. Apparently, it's much sought-after by foreign and local visitors.

www.vigan.ph

All images are mine and taken with my Samsung Galaxy S7.

Lola is that you with the white sneakers?
I didn't get to see this when we went before but we did see this place that had small cabinets/jewelry boxes. It was sooo cute. A little aparador with a tiny drawer.

Then we ate yummy empanada by the church before we boarded a bus to Pagudpud. Awww I wish I could take my kids there soon!

Me po un photographer. Hinde masarap un empanadahan near ng church ahahaha
Ayaw namin don lolsss
Tahimik ang Pagudpod noh?

I like pottery works. I was thinking to learn making pottery long time ago. Enjoyed :)

Thank you! You're welcome too in Vigan :)

Fascinating. I have a real passion for hand thrown pottery. Great photos of that wheel in motion!

Thank you. You would love it here then @opheliafu...Samsung Galaxy S7 is great with its' pictures.
Was thinking before of learning how to paint in London...just so i can paint my own pots by the beach in the future :)

@immarojas at least there they're not that expensive
sighs.. one thing I miss about our country ;)
sige post k p dami p pgkain nmn

It's not expensive obviously, it's the hassle of bringing it back to where they're from. We got loads of flower pots not being used sa backyard.
Eebaks na nga me kakakaen ng mangga and buko :(

@immarojas hahaha kmote ka bat mo pinaghalo hahah
pasaway buti nga di habal habal inabot mo
bring pots here? hahaha kidding :)
Have fun out there lola

Thank you lola..di ko man pinagsabay kaya. Magkasunod ko lang eat noh ;)

@immarojas napadami ba hahaha
d ble enjoyin mo n rin mtagal p ulit bgo k mkatikim nyan

Oh so truelets! Go ang Miss U sa vigan next wkend.

"Burnay" pre-colonialism Vigan's pottery, Philippines Part IIIsteemCreated with Sketch.

Harder than terracota

A novice hands...

to a very skilled ones.

"Burnay" pre-colonialism Vigan's pottery, Philippines Part III