BIG POTS

A novice takes on an artisanal trade

An episode from the series ARTISANS REBOOT

Synopsis

From small to large, earthen pots were traditionally hand built. Even with today’s mechanization, artisanal pots have a certain edge over machine made ones.

Chew Seow Phuang, from Singapore, knows little about the ancient techniques but he is going to learn from Master Jiang, from Taiwan. He is 80 years old and one of the last remaining builders of giant water urns. Amazingly, each piece ends up with the exact same dimensions.

This skill took Master Jiang more than 50 years to perfect. Mr Chew has less than a week.