In pictures: Syrian potter preserves centuries-old craft
The 85-year-old potter said his family has practised the craft for more than 450 years
Last updated:
2 MIN READ
1/14
Inside a dusty and dark workshop on the banks of the Jaghjagh river in northeast Syria, Misak Antranik Petros uses an ancient pottery wheel to throw different shapes from clay.
AFP
2/14
The 85-year-old Syrian potter of Armenian origin said his family has practised the craft for more than 450 years.
AFP
3/14
"The profession was passed down from one generation to another like an inheritance," he said. "Now, my son is taking it up."
AFP
4/14
His workshop is located inside an ancient mud-brick house near the city of Qamishli, administered by Kurdish authorities who control much of northeastern Syria.
AFP
5/14
It is cluttered with pots, tools and classically shaped vases, mostly covered in dust.
AFP
6/14
Petros and his two sons spend most of their time in the humid space, heated by an old wood-burning stove.
AFP
7/14
"I dont like to clean the clay off my hands because I like the texture," he told AFP from his workshop.
AFP
8/14
Petros was only a teenager when he had to take over for his sick father and become the main potter of the family. He has since become a master of the craft, and is keen to pass his skills on.
AFP
9/14
"I am happy when I see the door of the workshop open and my son working inside," he said. "This craft deserves to be preserved."
AFP
10/14
Syria's nine-year-long war has killed more than 387,000 people and displaced millions from their homes. Petros and his family were largely spared with their home and workshop dodging damage.
AFP
11/14
Of Petros's two sons - Anto and Yerevan - the former is likely to follow in his footsteps as a professional potter, especially after receiving training from his father.
AFP
12/14
"His hands need to be balanced," Petros said of his son, like a trapeze artist "walking on a tight rope".
AFP
13/14
Sitting at the pottery wheel, Anto, 43, moulds a clay vase with expert hands while his father watches. The young man said he is just as enthusiastic about the craft.
AFP
14/14
"I can't stop pottery for even two days because my hands miss it," Anto said. "If God blesses me with a child, I will teach them this craft the way my father taught me."
AFP
Sign up for the Daily Briefing
Get the latest news and updates straight to your inbox
Up Next
