Sejnane Pottery
The potters of Sejnane preserve history with their hands. Unique terracotta craft of Tunisia stretches back more than 3,000 years
It's in the village of Sejnane, a village located in the green hills of northern Tunisia, that women continue to practice the ancestral and primitive techniques for sculpting, baking and decorating the earth. In this region, artisanal pottery has been perpetuated from mother to daughter for several generations.
All stages of the pottery-making process are performed by women, who also sell the pots in the village and by the side of neighbouring roads. Women therefore occupy a prominent place in the community.
The clay is usually extracted from wadi beds, and is then cut into blocks, crushed, purified and soaked in water, before being kneaded and shaped. Once fired, the pots are then decorated with two-tone geometrical patterns reminiscent of traditional tattoos and Berber weaving.
Men are involved in the sales process, making this a family-based craft that promotes family cohesion.
These potteries, recognized as UNESCO World Heritage, are for decorative us
