sample04Kuštanovci · Prekmurje

Štefan Zelko

is one of the best Slovenian traditional potters. The process of making pottery (from the preparation of loam to firing) is his work, including the construction of a clay basin and the building of a kiln. He produces traditional pottery products on a tradi- tional wooden spinning wheel, which needs to be powered by foot or by a modern electrical version. His pottery products are traditionally decorated and painted. He is one of the few who still master the almost forgotten knowledge: the reduction or black firing. The master of black pottery firing also knows how to build a domed kiln. He uses a traditional black firing three or four times a year: in the context of the pot- tery school for children in Števanovci, in the village of Grad for children from the local elementary school and in Magušar’s House in Radovljica as part of the pottery work- shop. The endangerment degree of the pottery heritage is very high. The traditional pottery can attract the attention of younger generations through educational work- shops and research camps. But it can attract also tourists who not only want to buy a pottery product (which can be filled with agricultural products) but also want to try their hand at pottery craft (adventure tourism).

http://www.zkds.si/?q=node/35 http://www.zkds.si/filelib/Loncar.pdf

Sample 04 is clay from Kuštanovci (Prekmurje). The recommended firing temperature is 900–1100 °C. The beginning of sintering is at 1100–1250 °C. At 1100 °C shrinkage is 15 % and porosity 6 %.