Modra ceramics in Slovakia Part 1: How is it made and why is it so cool?

Modra, a small town about 30km from Bratislava, is famous for its traditional pottery. I went there the other day and here's a report!

Place where you can make reservation of a tour inside the facilities:
http://www.majolika.sk/en/excursions/

This video is narrated in Slovak. English translation is here:

Hello, I'm Slavka.
I'm the one who draws for you videos on the Bobo Slovak channel.
I draw the pictures and I also give them the voice. So those of you who saw some videos on Bobo Slovak channel - the grammar videos - you recognize this voice.
It's a female voice, not a male voice as some people think.

Today I'm appearing in person for the first time.
I'm appearing in person because I want to show you something.
And that something is this: this small cup. It's a shot glass (stamperlik).
Those of you who are from Slovakia or who live in Slovakia know that this is Modra pottery.
This bowl as well...

I've always liked this Modra ceramics because of its classic, clean, symmetrical design, but now I live abroad so I don't have much access to such things.

So when I went back to Slovakia the other day, I went to Modra to find out how this ceramics is made.
It was very interesting!
They show you all the manufacturing facilities, they show you how it (the clay) is spinned on a pottery wheel, how it is fired in the big kilns, how the craftsmen hand-paint each piece.

Anyone can go to the excursion. You just need to reserve it online. I put the link, where you can make the reservation, below.
If you are in Slovakia and if you are interested, go and have a look.

And one more interesting thing that you can do there is that you can paint your own cup. This kind of cup, for example. This is my work (haha).
They'll give you a plain white cup, which is already wheel-spinned and once fired, and they'll give you paints and brushes, which are the same as their professional painters use.
With those paints and brushes, you can paint your cup in whatever way you want. You can try some traditional Modra motif, or you can draw something completely different of your liking.
Then they'll fire the cup in their kiln, you come back to pick it up, and you get a nice souvenir (remembrance).

Why am I talking about this ceramics now?
Because here in Japan people often ask me what is a suitable gift from Slovakia, what is a good souvenir. This ceramics is very good souvenir.
It's traditional Slovak, it's classic. It's pretty and it's useful.
I recommend it.
That's all for now.
If you have questions or comments, please write them down in the comments section.
Thanks. Bye!

Видео Modra ceramics in Slovakia Part 1: How is it made and why is it so cool? канала Bobo-Slovak