• Tunisian potter Saliha Saidani, 55, on her way to a field where she extracts soil to be used clay for her pottery in the village of Sejnane, Bizerte province. The traditional pottery skills of the women of Sejnane have been passed down from mother to daughter for generations. All photos: EPA
    Tunisian potter Saliha Saidani, 55, on her way to a field where she extracts soil to be used clay for her pottery in the village of Sejnane, Bizerte province. The traditional pottery skills of the women of Sejnane have been passed down from mother to daughter for generations. All photos: EPA
  • Saliha digs for soil to be used as clay for her pottery.
    Saliha digs for soil to be used as clay for her pottery.
  • The women's craft was added in 2018 to Unesco's list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
    The women's craft was added in 2018 to Unesco's list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
  • About 450 families make a living from pottery in the village, but only women perform the ancient craft.
    About 450 families make a living from pottery in the village, but only women perform the ancient craft.
  • The motifs are inspired by the Berber tradition in the region.
    The motifs are inspired by the Berber tradition in the region.
  • Once fired, the handmade objects are then decorated with natural materials without chemical additions.
    Once fired, the handmade objects are then decorated with natural materials without chemical additions.
  • The clay they use is extracted manually from nearby fields and river shores.
    The clay they use is extracted manually from nearby fields and river shores.
  • The potters sell their wares directly in the village, at exhibitions in other cities, or sometimes abroad.
    The potters sell their wares directly in the village, at exhibitions in other cities, or sometimes abroad.
  • Tunisian potter Saliha Saidani, 55, shows a figure she created in her house in the village of Sejnane, Bizerte province, north of Tunis, Tunisia, 21 January 2022. The traditional pottery skills of the women of Sejnane have been passed down from mother to daughter for generations. Their craft has been inscribed in 2018 on the UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. About 450 families live from pottery in the village, but only women perform the ancient craft. The clay they use is extracted manually from nearby fields and river shores. Once fired, the handmade objects are then decorated with natural materials without chemical additions. The motifs are inspired by the Berber tradition in the region. The potters sell their wares directly in the village, at exhibitions in other cities, or sometimes abroad. EPA / MOHAMED MESSARA ATTENTION: This Image is part of a PHOTO SET
    Tunisian potter Saliha Saidani, 55, shows a figure she created in her house in the village of Sejnane, Bizerte province, north of Tunis, Tunisia, 21 January 2022. The traditional pottery skills of the women of Sejnane have been passed down from mother to daughter for generations. Their craft has been inscribed in 2018 on the UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. About 450 families live from pottery in the village, but only women perform the ancient craft. The clay they use is extracted manually from nearby fields and river shores. Once fired, the handmade objects are then decorated with natural materials without chemical additions. The motifs are inspired by the Berber tradition in the region. The potters sell their wares directly in the village, at exhibitions in other cities, or sometimes abroad. EPA / MOHAMED MESSARA ATTENTION: This Image is part of a PHOTO SET

MENA

Tunisian pottery is a generation game - in pictures

The women of Sejnane have been passed down the skills from mother to daughter for generations.

The National

January 24, 2022

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Updated: January 24, 2022, 8:24 AM
PhotographyTunisia