Ceramics coloured by smoke
- Corneliu is a sixth-generation ceramicist from Marginea
- Using local clay and an ancient smoke-firing technique, he creates distinctive black pottery
- His pieces employ decorative techniques inspired by archaeological finds
Corneliu Magopăț first worked with clay when he was six years old, learning from his family in a tradition that goes back six generations. Working in the same workshop his family has used for decades, Corneliu keeps the art of black ceramics alive. After studying international economic relations and earning a master’s degree in business management, he chose to return home and devote himself to working with clay. “For me, the craft is more than just a profession, it is a way of living,” he says. Each object passes through careful hands and carries with it not only function, but history. Though the process remains rooted in the local tradition, Corneliu has found ways to adapt it over time to meet modern demands.
Interview
- When did you start working with clay?
- I first started modelling with clay when I was six, just for fun. Over time, I practised different patterns and by the time I was nine or ten, I was already making flower vases. I learned from several craftspeople, including my parents, grandparents, uncles and also my colleagues in the workshop. Each one taught me something different.
- How did Marginea develop a tradition of black ceramics?
- The practice is roughly two thousand years old and has Dacian roots. The tradition in this area goes back at least three hundred years. Clay was readily available when the community was first established, so the people who settled here took up pottery. The surrounding forests provided the fir wood that is an essential part of the firing process in making black ceramics.
- How popular is the tradition of black ceramic making today?
- In the beginning, around 60 local families were practising black ceramics. But since the 1990s, many have stopped. Today, only three families continue the tradition, and we all work in the same workshop. Currently, we are three ceramicists: my brother-in-law, a neighbour and me. Three ceramic decorators work on the pieces before firing, and my wife paints the pieces afterwards.
- What techniques do you use in your creative process?
- Marginea black ceramics begin with carefully cleaned and kneaded clay, shaped entirely by hand on traditional or electric wheels using just a few simple tools. After drying and polishing with river flint for a natural shine, the pieces are sun-dried and fired with fir wood in a sealed kiln at 900°C. The smoke absorbed during firing gives the objects its distinctive black colour.
Corneliu Magopăț is a master artisan: he began his career in 1991 and he started teaching in 2000
Where
Corneliu Magopăț
