 Havarechyna is a village in Lviv region. This village is a cell of pottery, the burning style of which is very specific. Folded historically that the name of the village became the name of this pottery kind. About three centuries ago the black ceramics masters (potters) lived in small town named Bily Kamin' (White Stone – Eng.). Black smoke went out while pottery burning and apparently white stone became black. Therefore the countess Teresa, town owner, ordered to move people nearer to the forest. In such way small potters' village arose. The black ceramics is made of the special clay on potter's wheel. The lean local clay is mixed with rich imported one and then it is puddled long time till it becomes homogenous viscous paste. So it is ready to be put on the wheel where potter is creating. After drying, the ornaments are burnished or 'drawn' by the hard stones. The firing results in the burnished surface having silver tint with the rest of it colored black. Then, 300-400 the completely dried items are put into the kiln and in the special opening the firewood is put. Only beech, ash, birch or hornbeam firewood is used for burning.The firewood is put gradually into the kiln till it occupies the whole space in the forge. Also the soil is added in the kiln. At the end the kiln is completely filled up by the soil. It doesn’t give way to the oxygen access because it may cause the white spots on the ceramic items. Also in such way the burning hot surface easy absorbs the soot. This is why such sort of ceramics is called smoked. Well burned items have not black color, but light silver tint. They are firm, long-lived and sonorous. The whole night or longer the kiln stays shut. The process of burning (smoking) takes up to 12 hours; and, God forbid!, to overdo – you get the shards only. Then it is dug out and gets cold. And only then this black gold is laid out on the green grass or the straw. And now you can get acquainted with such kind of pottery and buy it on this web-site in one of the following categories:
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