The Ecological Aspects of Local Pottery in Guilan, Iran

Authors

  • Majid Ziaee
  • Ahmad Nadalian
  • Mohsen Marasy

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7596/taksad.v6i3.971

Keywords:

Iranian local pottery, Handicrafts, Sustainable development, Traditional ecological knowledge, Ceramic ecology, Environmental art.

Abstract

The modern world is facing pervasive environmental problems and pollution crisis, while in the previous eras, meeting one's need through environment would inflict less harm on one's surroundings. In traditional artifacts, compatibility with the natural environment does exist and in many aspects has been suited with the climate and environmental features of every locality. The main purpose of the study is to identify and introduce the environmental features of pottery of Guilan, Iran. This is achieved by investigating the interaction between the local potters and their environment. The primary data are collected through library resources, field observation and visiting active potteries in Guilan. In this regard, the main research questions of the present study are as follows: What are the features of Guilan local pottery? What features are compatible with environmental standards? To conduct the study, a descriptive-analytical method is employed. The findings show that pottery in Guilan is not a threat to the environment in terms of local knowledge in using raw material, finding resources of renewable energy, community-based manpower, optimum exploitation of time and energy, potteryware designing with various functions, and re-using a product for further purposes. Nonetheless, there exist some issues which are not environmentally friendly like failure to modernize the potteryware to be of use for current needs, high rate of waste over the production process, and using toxic materials in glazing. Therefore, raising environmental awareness of locals, cultural diffusion, informing the users of the benefits of using pottery, and making improvements to the cycle of design, producing, and marketing all play substantial role in preserving local pottery.

References

Arnold, D. E. (1993). Ecology and ceramic production in an Andean Community. New York: University of Cambridge.

Babaie, H. (2016, June 18). Giulan Local pottery. (M. Ziaee, Interviewer) Amlash, Guilan, Khomeir Mahale Village, Ali Ashraf Babaie workshop.

Bitama'e, M. (2016, June 24). Giulan Local pottery. (M. Ziaee, Interviewer) Sowme'eh Sara, Guilan, Larsar Village.

Boshra, M. & Taheri, T. (2007). Festivals and rituals of guilan people (nouroz ceremony). Rasht: Farhang Iliya.

Bower, S. (2016, March 21). A Profusion of Terms. Retrieved from green museum: http://greenmuseum.org/generic_content.php?ct_id=306

Ecological art. (2016, July 17). Retrieved from Wikipedia: www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecological_art#cite_note-47

Gluck, J. & Gluck, S. H. (1977). A Survey of Persian Handicraft: A Pictorial Introduction to the Contemporary Folk Arts and Art Crafts of Modern Iran. Tehran: The Bank of Melli Iran.

Harrison, R. (2013). Sustainable Ceramics. Ohio: the American Ceramic Society.

Hasegawa, Y. (2011). Ceramic Tableware Recycling by Green Life 21 Project; Efforts for sustainable manufacturing in a traditional local production area. RED Objects; Collaboration in Experimental Design Research (pp. 73-82). Sydney: School of Design Studies, College of Fine Arts, University of New South Wales.

Lefteri, C. (2006). Materials for inspirational design. UK: Rotovision.

Loghmani, H. (2016, June 17). Guilan local pottery. (M. Ziaee, Interviewer) Shaft, Guilan, Khortom Bala Village.

Marashi, A. (1363). Dictionary of Gilaki language. Rasht: Ta'ati.

Miyachi, N. & Hasegawa, Y. (2009). Approach to Construction of Recycling System for Porcelain. CERAMICS JAPAN, 31-36.

Mohammadi, A. (2016, June 19). Giulan Local pottery. (M. Ziaee, Interviewer) Rudsar, Guilan, Khomeir Mahalleh, Banoo Sharif workshop.

Rafie, A. & Rahmati, A. (2016). Pottery and cley in Guilan. Rasht: Guilan University.

Rahimi, A. & Matin, M. (2009). The technology of whitewares. Tehran: Sherkat Sahami Enteshar.

Sadeghi, H. (2015). Design and manufacture of ceramic works according to the results of Anthropology local ceramics Guilan; case study Rahimabad & Amlash region. Tabriz Islamic Art University, Islamic Arts. Tabriz: non-publish.

Shokri, M. (2016, June 19). Giulan Local pottery. (M. Ziaee, Interviewer) Siahkal, Guilan, Mehrbon Village.

Yamashita, N. H. (2003). Study of Environmentally-friendly Traditional Ceramic Products - MINO “Re-Tableware” and Green Life21 project. 6th Asian Design Conference (pp. 1-5). Tsukuba: Interaction Design Foundation. Retrieved from http://www.idemployee.id.tue.nl/g.w.m.rauterberg/conferences/cd_donotopen/adc/

Downloads

Published

2017-06-18

How to Cite

Ziaee, M., Nadalian, A., & Marasy, M. (2017). The Ecological Aspects of Local Pottery in Guilan, Iran. Journal of History Culture and Art Research, 6(3), 297-317. https://doi.org/10.7596/taksad.v6i3.971