Some aspects of the ceramics techonology in the late middle ages in Belarus

Abstract

Adding national flavor to agricultural tourist houses is connected with the question of traditional ceramics for national cuisine, which forms an important element of the local colour of the interiors. It’s necessary to study the techniques of ceramics production. The technology includes questions of the molding compound composition, molding technique, baking methods and surface decoration. The molding compound of unglazed and glazed utensils of the 16–17th centuries. includes from 25 to 40% of additives: both natural (like sand, sometimes marl) and artificial (gravel or sand, sometimes chamotte). The pottery was formed on hand-operated (before the 16th century) or foot-operated potter’s wheel. The items were baked in oxidizing, reducing or uncured oxidizing solution at a temperature be-tween 700 and 900 С. For surface decoration scalding, engobing and glossing were used. In the Eastern region the inner surface was glazed, an d the outer surface was covered with a layer of white engobe be-fore glazing. In the Western region engobe was used for painting only. According to the application techniques, the ornament is divided into corrugated, stamped (carving method), moulded, painted, dim-pled, notched and fingered ornamentation. Regional features can be noticed in molding compound composition, pottery decoration preferences or ornamentation.