Moroccan pottery

Nov 13, 2021

In Morocco, pottery is the most representative craftsmanship of the local culture. Moroccan pottery is known all over the world for its unparalleled quality and beauty.
Pottery has long been rooted in the Moroccan tradition. It is a craft know-how that has been handed down from generation to generation by perfecting itself and reaching a level of world fame.

However, there are different styles of Moroccan pottery  : urban pottery, produced mainly in Salé, Fez and Safi; southern pottery and northern pottery, known as rural pottery. Most of them are fine and sophisticated urban pottery reproduces the motifs of Islamic art.


Thus, always tinged with local culture, pottery diversifies and especially between not only between the north and south of the kingdom. But also between towns and rural villages. It is this diversity that promotes the beautiful pottery of Morocco, urban pottery and Berber pottery.
Born from this very ancient heritage, this Moroccan and Berber pottery always seduces of all the particularities that it can assert. Some pottery has very special colours, such as the Fès pottery and its wonderful cobalt blue. Then the green or ochre from Tamegroute
region. Colors such as green, yellow, brown stand out in Safi pottery, another green is unique to Meknes pottery…. Others pottery can differ from their designs.

Clay is in abundance in Morocco and has an exceptional quality. It is the raw material used for the creation of Moroccan pottery. The clay dries in the sun for several days and then is mixed and worked by hand. It is left to stand for several days before being kneaded for a long time to prepare for making the pottery. The potters have neither a workshop nor a walking wheel. Each pot is modeled and smoothed by hand on the ground. The creation of Berber pottery is a real work of patience. You will need an overlong preparation to master this art.

The pottery of Morocco use natural clay colored with natural colors. 
Moroccan artisans use raw clay to make glazed, enameled, and decorated pottery.

We can also talk about the Tadelakt, this water lime coating made with Marrakech lime. This coating offers very aesthetic and waterproof virtues. The craftsmanship and finishing takes place with the help of a river pebble with which the Maalem (master craftsman) in tadelakt will make repeated circular gestures several times.

These gestures will be renewed with the addition of black soap diluted in water… In modern pottery and for the new application of Moroccan pottery, the Tadelakt was rather revolutionary. Currently, Tadelakt pottery offers pieces with a very aesthetic contemporary look that are highly appreciated.

If you have already visited Morocco, you have certainly eaten the Moroccan tagine. And if you have visited Marrakech, you might have tried the tangia dish. Both tagine and tangia are examples of Berber pottery.

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