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.
