Chamba pottery has been made in the village of La Chamba on the banks of the Magdalena River of Central Colombia for as long as anyone can remember.
The pieces are crafted inside the homes, dried outside on porches, patios and yards and fired in small ovens. Individual families specialize in certain pieces and most family members help in some way.
The clay itself is ubiquitous, and through special laws, belongs to the residents of La Chamba. It is even “mined” from the fields of local farmers prior to planting.
The red or terra cotta colored slip that is applied prior to firing if mined further away and is purchased from vendors. (The red clay is finer than the coarse black clay and enables the Chamba to be burnished to a fine sheen.)
