Historical background                                  Language

      Dan kwain , one of the villages of Tambon Dan Kwian, Amphur Chokchai about 15 kilometers from Nakhon Ratchasima (Korat), situated on the highway No.224 (Nakhon Ratchasima-Chokchai).The pottery shops are located crowdedly along both sides of the Moon Riverbanks. In the past, the venders from Nang Rong - Burirum - Surin - Kunhan - Kukan including Khmer were travelling to Dan Kwian on purchasing purpose. Since they always stayed and rested in from of Kwian Caravan, this village was called " Ban Dan Kwian ". While they were talking rest, they brought the clay from the banks of the Moon River to make various vessels such as : earthen jars, basins(bowls), preserved-fish jars etc for daily usage by imitating from Kha-villagers who used to stayed in that region. Afterwards, they took back these hand-made pottery to their domicile .With its extra-ordinary quality of the vessels in both colors and durability, Dan Kwian vessels are noted for the unique pottery widely used for interior and outdoor decorations from the past up to present .The characteristic of Dan Kwian pottery is based on the fineness clay derived from the Moon Riverbanks (away from the Highway No.224, 2-3 Kilometers to the East) at the area which the villagers called " Gud " or "Stumped River" (bended and curved current erodes the riverbanks that originated the stumped river). Such eroded area full of accumulated clay created the uniqueness of Dan Kwian clay to be famous for its durability (not easily to be distorted or broken) in the proper heating process. The most interesting point is the unique natural red color (rusty color) of the clay after having been burnt caused by a large quantity of the iron oxide composed in the clay.


  
 
The Manufacturing of Earthenware
 
 
 1. Clay Preparation
- Clay Fermentation The demanding clay will be mixed up in the proportion of 2:1 (very sticky clay 2 and little sticky clay 1). Separate pieces of wood, rock, and watering, then bring it to ferment in the hole at size 1X1 meter with 20 cms. Depth. It takes at least 24 hours in fermentation propose.

- Clay Thrash The thrashing-machine will iron the clay in to portions(pieces). In the past, the clay thrash used the buffalo’s skin or heavy piece of wood crash over the clay until it was well-mixed up. Then, the clay will be ironed into pieces at size 25-30 cms. With 8 cms. Width called " Lor " which will fix the size of the required vessel. Water it thoroughly and kept in plastic for 2 days (In the former times, used banana leaves, sacks kept in earthen jars).
 
 2. Fomat/Model Process
 The machine to be used is like a spiral round-board called " Pa-mon".
The sculptor and assistant (a person who winds Pa-mon) will be working together. While the sculptor is bringing “ Lor ” to continually shape-up the earthenware(vessel) in accordance with the require size, the assistant is winding Pa-mon relatively and simultaneously. Throughout the model process, the sculptor always refreshes the clay by using the wet cloth around the modeling-clay in order to prevent dryness on such clay.
 
 
 
 3. Decoration
 In the those day, there was only one design call " Lai-Ta-Kieng " by using a piece of wood draw a line on the sculptured-vessel during the winding of Pa-mon . Now a day, there are additional new design up to the sculptor’s imagination which is divided into 3 categories: scraping, openwork, patchy-sculptor by using the muddy water of the same clay called " Kee-Hvee " as a welding of the patchy-sculptor design.
 
 
 
 4. Airing
 Take the modeled vessel to be aired at the Exposure Grass House with the roof covered the sandy floor to protect the wind , sun, rain. The airing is up to the season i.e. summer takes 15-20 days whereas season takes 30 days.
 
 
 5. Burning
 In the past, the villagers will the local stove at the termite-hill deep down the underground and use the top funnel of termite-hill as funnel of stove which is called " Tao-Tu-Rieng ". However, at present we use the brickkiln made from raw-brick, but still maintained the character of the original stove with the only one exceptional difference, that is the current brickkiln is built on the surface. The burning is divided into 3 steps based on the fire temperature.
 
 
 - Low Fire or is so-called by the villagers " Lum " with approximate temperature 0-300 celsius by using the 3 big piece of wood burning at the front of the brickkiln about 12 hours.
 
 
 
 - Medium Fire or is so-called by the villagers " Ud " with approximate temperature 300-900 celsius by using the small piece of wood continually burning at the front of the brickkiln about 6 hours where the white mist to be easily noticed at the top funnel.
 
 
 
 - Strong Fire or is so-called by the villagers " Long-Fi " with approximate temperature 900-1300 celsius by using the wood burning inside the brickkiln about 6 hours
 
 
 
 After the wood is well-burned, close the top of the brickkiln with raw-brick or clay about 48 hours. Then, take the earthenware product out of the brickkiln.
 
 
 

Special thanks  Khun Patama Narintarangkool for english