Intangible cultural heritage in Ibi: ‘Botijo’ pottery workshop

The “botijo” (earthenware pitcher), a very typical Spanish piece of pottery, is a wonderful piece of craftsmanship with a rich history and a much appreciated practical function, especially in hot climates.

Intangible cultural heritage: The botijo is a reminder of the creativity and adaptability of our ancient civilisations in search of practical solutions to the conditions of their environment. Its manufacture has been handed down from generation to generation, and today, the last potters keep this tradition alive. The jug is not only a functional object, but also a symbol of history and culture.

The ceramic tradition of Alicante and Ibi

The ceramic tradition of the province of Alicante and, in particular, of Ibi, is rich and diverse, with roots dating back to Roman times. In Ibi, storage vessels, jars and jars with moulded lips, plates or pots decorated with circles and concentric circles, shapeless material with geometric decoration, and kitchen pottery represented by fragments of pots with a thickened protruding rim have been found. The ceramic tradition of Alicante and Ibi is a reflection of their rich history and culture and continues to be an integral part of their identity and tourist attraction.

Ceramic techniques in Alicante are diverse and have evolved over time, ranging from basic to advanced techniques of modelling, pottery wheel and decoration.

Ceramics in Alicante and Ibi have a strong cultural and heritage component. Iberian pottery, for example, has very diverse forms and is often associated with specific traditions and rituals. The influence of Al-Andalus is also evident in the ceramic culture of the region, where Arab influences are evident.

Alicante's ceramics attract tourists and art enthusiasts. Pottery workshops offer an opportunity to learn and experience the art of ceramics. In addition, there are exhibitions and museums, such as the Toy Museum in Ibi, which present ceramic pieces inspired by educational and/or decorative toys.

A botijo workshop

The pottery workshop worked on a typical Spanish and regional piece, although it now has a decorative value, it is still a highly appreciated container in rural areas where it is still used. This is the "botijo", a piece of pottery that was used to keep water cool.

A “botijo” is defined as a vessel with a spheroid body, a handle at the top, and two or more holes. The wider hole, through which it is filled, is usually called the 'boca' (mouth) and the other, the 'pitón' or 'pitorro' (spout), which produces a fine trickle ideal for drinking without too much waste.

The functioning of the “botijo” is based on a cooling process. A small portion of the stored water is filtered through the pores of the clay and when it comes into contact with the temperature of the environment it evaporates rapidly. As a result, the water inside the “botijo” cools down. This object can keep the water up to 15°C cooler than the ambient temperature, acting as a natural refrigerator.

In this workshop, a jug is made for decoration because of its size. It is true that with the arrival of water coolers, this type of element is only used in rural areas and in the countryside, in their agricultural work, where it is still useful to have this container to conserve fresh water in a sustainable way.

Materials:

Clay: This is the main material used in the manufacture of a botijo. The clay used to make it is the main key to its cooling capacity, a clay characterised by greater porosity.
Paint: Acrylic or special ceramic paints can be used to decorate the botijo.
Varnish: A porcelain varnish can be applied to give it a glossy finish and protect the paint.

Creation process:

Preparation of the clay: In the past, this phase required a very laborious process that involved searching for, collecting, transporting, sieving and drying the clay. Nowadays, the whole process is carried out industrially.
Kneading: This is used to eliminate any air that the clay may contain, leaving the clay ready to be worked.
Turning or modelling: The first step is to shape the body of the botijo, leaving it to air out once it has been turned. For small pieces, modelling and hollowing is possible (as in this example that we have compiled in images and video). The rest of the pieces (mouth, handle and spout) are made separately (modelling them) and are also left to air so that the clay has sufficient consistency.
Gluing the pieces together: The mouth, handle and spout are joined to the body of the botijo, and the whole piece is then finished to achieve a fine finish.
Drying: Once the piece is finished, it is left to dry long enough so that the piece does not fracture during the firing phase due to the high temperatures of the kiln4.
Firing: The last phase of manufacture is to fire it in a kiln below 1000 degrees temperature, to prevent the micropores in the clay from sealing.

(For large pieces, the use of a ceramic wheel is interesting. We attach this image since in the process followed they were made without a ceramic wheel)

After modelling, the piece is dried until all the water evaporates. This step is crucial to prevent the piece from breaking during firing and it is then fired in the kiln from clay to ceramic. From this point on, the piece can be decorated by painting it. In some pieces it is possible to apply a second firing or glaze. This is the case with tiles where the glaze melts and forms a glazed layer that gives a perfect finish.

Final finishing:

Decoration: Various painting and decorating techniques can be used to give the botijo a unique and attractive appearance.
Varnishing: Finally, a varnish can be applied to protect the paint and give it a glossy finish.