A handful of clay is enough to make dreams come true… An old potter’s proverb from Bunzlau (“der Stadt des Guten Tons“) compares ploughing a field to throwing on the potter’s wheel. Both is hard work, but also the way to proudly earn your living.
The earth is my acre
The wheel is my plough
I’m a potter maker
That gives me my bread now
(Historical potter’s proverb from Bunzlau, translated from German*)
Our stories arise between dream and reality. Stories of happiness and beauty. Stories from yesterday and thousands of years ago…
Barbara Bartos-Höppner
This week I read Barbara Bartos-Höppner’s book “Aus einer Handvoll Ton” (1967). Yes German for “from a handful of clay”, the title of this blog.
It’s the story of a potter from Bunzlau, who had to leave house and ceramic kiln after the Second World War, when this border area, which this historic ceramics city is part of, was added to Poland.
Together with his wife and children, he eventually settled in Höhr-Grenzhausen, in the Westerwald in West Germany. His son and daughter rebuild their lives in their own way by making pottery. But the old potter from Bunzlau sets out. He becomes a traveling potter who gives demonstrations in schools. But he’s also looking. In search of his son’s child, who were separated from each other in the chaos of war.
It’s a story of human suffering, perseverance and hope. Hope for a future of handmade ceramics, through new generations of makers.
From a handful of clay
The book “Aus einer Handvoll Ton” is a must in my opinion. It is one of the many beautiful stories behind handmade ceramics. And it was also a story I had heard before…
When we spoke to the ceramist Bolko Peltner in Höhr-Grenzhausen. He told us that his parents had to flee Bunzlau area after The Second World War. However, his father rebuilt his dream.
He started a new “Töpferei” in Höhr-Grenzhausen, which he passed on to his son. That is nowadays Töpferei und Museum ́Im Kannenofen ́, definitely worth a visit.
Clay shapes our dreams, stories and life
Only a handful of clay gives shape to our dreams. It makes our stories. The stories create a bond. And these bonds shape our lives.
So go look for it. And if you’re in a nice place: grab a handful of clay and let the stories about handmade ceramics live on.
I wish everyone a happy holiday 🙂
*Original text in German (unknown author):
Die Erde ist mein Acker,
Die Scheibe ist mein Pflug
Ich bin ein Töpfer wacker
Das gibt mir Brot genug
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