Once in a lifetime you’re given a rare opportunity.
After a few days in Marrakech the kids were looking at tagines in the house and asked how “those” were made and if they were made from rock. We told them it was pottery and made of clay and maybe one day we’ll take you to a pottery factory and show you how its made.
Luckily our hosts knew of a family friend who ran and operated his own pottery factory in the outskirts of Marrakech and gave him a call. We were then booked the following day for our own private tour!
With not one tourist or tour bus in site, we entered an almost deserted city.
Deeper into the city , there were many different pottery and mosaic shops along the roadside, with buyers parked and selecting items in bulk. The first workshop we walked into was a hand-crafted mosaic shop. The workers were busy chipping away at tiles covered with enamel.
The tiles are then arranged by the artists in the next shop over. Most of the mosaics are geometrical, a main characteristic of Moroccan architecture. Mosaics are found throughout the city in walls, ceilings, fountains, floors and tables like the one pictured below.
As we thanked the shop owner we proceeded to the “pottery factory” where family members were waiting our arrival. They gave us a tour of the retail shop first, showing us all the beautiful pottery that’s made from their factory. We loved the large pots!
Once outside we saw all the beautiful tagines ready for sale. They were so colorful and if we could we would have bought them all they were that pretty.
We were then escorted around the corner to the pottery factory where a potter, with over 30+ years experience, would help us create our own masterpieces. The small, factory was filled with all kinds of pottery; pots, dishes, jugs, tagines, bowls, etc. We had to walk carefully as not to break anything.
Once inside our potter started showing us several types of different pottery that can be made from one slab of clay. We watched in awe as he made 8 items so very quickly one of which he made with this eyes closed.
The kids got antsy and wanted to touch and make their own pottery, so they jumped up and made their own pieces. Watching their reaction and the joy on their faces as they learned something new was endearing.
We left the factory appreciating the potter, his experience, patience and talent. It is not easy to make pottery and involves a lot of practice and focus. The kids loved getting their hands dirty and clothes full of clay. All in all it was a great world schooling opportunity for our family and we didn’t even notice that 5 hours of the day had already passed.
There are many pottery tours available in Marrakech, here’s one we almost went to, until we found out we knew someone who owned one!
Pottery for kids in Morocco… A Must!!!
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPbFgpXttDM&w=420&h=315]
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yowc8Ed-w-E&w=420&h=315]
Hi guys,
This looks like great fun for the kids.
In Marrakech at the moment.
Where is this? Can anyone just turn up? Would prefer to get away from the tourists…
Thanks,
Hey Steven,
Hope you’re enjoying Marrakech with the kids. Our hosts ended up organizing our pottery tour as their family friend owned a pottery factory – sorry I can’t be more helpful!