WORLD CRAFTS COUNCIL
(WCC AISBL) INTERNATIONAL
Kalpourgan (Iran)
This village is highlighted for being well-preserved and producing a unique kind of pottery as an art craft. It's an authentic souvenir from the local community to tourists as it reflects the traditional ethnic society of Iran. All inhabitants of this village are from Baluch ethnic group. The village language is Baluchi and Makuran Dialect.Despite the passing of several centuries, the people ofthis Village still keep customs and traditions of their ancestors, especially religious rites.
The main and common Handicrafts of the Village are mostlymat-weaving, needlework and pottery.For mat-weaving, villagers use leaves of wild palm tree called Daz which can be found around the village and surrounding plains,like other southern regions of Baluchistan except for a few women,Mat-weaving is mainly done by men and productions mostly used locally.
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The other importanthandicraft is needlework which is done by village’s women and girls for personal use in their traditional clothing. Almost every women and girls of village are familiar with this art. However, what made this village special and distinct is its exceptional and famous pottery.This pottery is known for its unique qualities among other kind of potteries. The patterns and designs of Kalpouregan
Potteryare completely geometrical and remindingus of ancient earthenwaredesigns. The decorations on the potteries are abstract symbols, handed down from one generation to other, and narrate secret and mystery of spiritual and inmost desires of artist based on their environment, as well as showing of her/his beliefs and values, these patterns and designs are very similar to designs on potteriesof prehistoric and early centuries of historic eras. Titok Stone has been used to decorate and paint. This stone can be found in Achaar Hill area inKahouran, Mehrestan. Its color is usually brown or black. This stone is some kind of manganese stone and produces brown color.
Kalpouregan Pottery has its own uniqueprimitive and beautiful ancient designs. Glazing is not used in this kind of pottery. The traditional firewood baking method was common up to 25 years ago. Since 1975 a.c. (1354 s.h.), when the new kilnswere made, baking has been done in the oil fueledkiln. The kilns wallsare made of bricks, these bricks are made from a mixture of pottery soil and ordinary clay.Moving from these stages, it is time to display crafts of Baluch women of this land in form of Hookah, dough pot, tankard, Suchky, Sugar bowl, ashtray, all kinds of plates, mugs and piggy bank.An interesting property of this pottery is its handles which compared to the modern potteries are sturdier and break less easily.
Currently 50 women of the village do this work.In process of making Kalpouregan Pottery, 7000 years old pottery tools are used so that no new instrument have been used in painting, glazing and none of the production stages and they are completely old and natural based.Almost all of the 50 women of the villagereactively involved in the process of making pottery, while other stages likesailing, providing clay and maintenance are done by some of the village’s men.The only active workshop of the village is Kalpouregan old museum, it is almost 44 years old. Not only pottery is made in this workshop, but also training courses is held up anda part of its space is considered for pottery museum. Kalpourgan village’s women are breaking cultural boundaries through the art, and expressing and empowering themselves inside their traditional community.