Almost everywhere in the world there is a very long ceramic tradition. The techniques have been discovered independently in many places in the world. Historians nowadays assume that people used clay some 20,000 years ago to make pots that were fired into ceramics (10,000 years before the discovery of agriculture).
The first ceramic objects were probably fired by chance in open wood fires. Nowadays ceramics are fired in very many ways, gas, oil, coal, electricity and still with wood, such as in La Borne (France). And you guessed it: I experienced the local ceramics traditions up close this summer …
La Borne
The hamlet of La Borne, built in the middle of a historic pottery area (from the 13th century) in central France, is already mentioned in writing in the 16th century. The village enjoys a privileged location amidst forests (fuel) and stoneware clay (grès), an ideal position for ceramic workshops. 
At the beginning of the 20th century, the economic tide turned. The ceramic industry declined sharply and the village was (almost) empty. In the 50s and 60s of the last century the village transformed. Ceramic artists from this France and abroad (re)discover La Borne. Many breathe new life into the traditional wood burning kilns and made modern hand-made ceramics.
Today, La Borne has become the European center of wood firing. It has historic kilns, three ceramic museums (Le Musée de la poterie, La Cathédrale Jean Linard en Le Musée Ivanoff), a center of modern ceramics (Le Centre céramique contemporaine) and more than 60 working ceramists. Reason enough to experience the couleur locale again this summer.
The French Way
In the month of August there was much to do. Not only new exhibits (Les Belges à La Borne), but also a vernissage (of Seung-Ho Yang in Montigny) a ceramics fair in nearby Morogues etc. .
What struck us was that often no addresses and times were given. The ceramics fair was in the village of Morogues, but where and what time?
Arrows from the church indicated the place, the time? Oh well it’s time when it’s time. ..No uniform market stalls like in the Netherlands and at noon people eat and drink, leaving the stalls empty.
Timeless Ceramics
Back in the Netherlands, everything has been shown exactly and times have been tight. Woke up this morning at 5.30 o’clock to fire; 6.00 hours the kiln ignited. Exactly according to schedule.
When the combustion is completed? Well, that’s ready when it’s done; I wrote this blog during the (reduction) fire and it is now 00.12 hours. The gas kiln I keep still operating, ceramics just like the French do not get stuck at a specific time….
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