L’ultimo capitolo della tradizionale produzione ceramica di Barrama

There are many indications of the end of the typical pottery manufacture of Barrama, a village near Bargou (Siliana,
Tunisia). The traditional manufacture, originally a primary economic resource of the village, which scarcely survived the
beginnings of industrialization, predictably failed to resist globalisation, like other European-based handicrafts such as
pocket knife production (from which, several comparisons are discussed).
While vessels made from various alternative materials (plastic, metal and industrial ceramics) expanded, we also note the
hybridization of traditional pottery shapes, the introduction of non-traditional shapes and the development of other forms
of individual creativity.
In this article, we illustrate both the range of traditional forms and some of the new forms which we anticipate will be of
short duration, before, we hope, a resurgence of the traditional forms.