The Origin of Pottery Making

There is good clay in the Liguanea Plain around the area of Kingston and Spanish Town in the south of the island and it is here that most of the traditional pottery is produced. In his interview Cecil Baugh describes two systems of production. One based in the Spanish Town area, almost exclusively female, where pots are formed in a ‘keke' or wide mould and are fired in an open fire. These pots are particularly valued as cooking pots. The other tradition is one where the potter stands over the lump of clay and pulls up the sides, forming the shape walking round the pot eventually adding coils of clay.

This pottery is produced in the Kingston area and nowadays is mainly produced by men although earlier this century women predominated. These pots are usually fired in simple up draught kilns. In earlier times this ware had a wide range of domestic uses, but was deemed not suitable as cookware. These large jars and bowls are now known as ‘flower pots' and used as decorative planters for patios and gardens.

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