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Lapithos and the art of pottery making go
together from Ancient times, in particular from the 5000BC as shown by
pots surfaced after archaeological excavations in Lambousa. Legend has it
that the Art of Pottery making was found by
Κινάρα-Kinara, son of
Αγρίππα-Agrippa, or by
Κινύρα-Kiniras, and was preserved generation
after generation. On the photo, Aristophanis Hadjicharalambous, one of the
most well-known potters of Lapithos while shaping the pots before the 1974
barbaric Turkish invasion.
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The
Αλειφτά-Alifta Pots and plates made
Lapithos famous. After "baking" them in the oven, the process of
γριάλιασμα-graliasma
took place. Using the rust of the copper, and with an ancient method of
dissolving the rust in the sink and adding some other igredients, they
manage to create different colors. Then, they dip their hands in the
"paint" and use it as a brush to give these magnificent color
shades.
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Among
other things Lapithos was also famous for its pottery decoration. A
traditional pottery maker is drawing a scene from Greek Mythology on a
vase. The decoration was made after the pots were baked in the oven for 24
hours to harden. The most famous painter of pots and plates was Costas
Patsalides who worked for many years at the pottery of Aristophanis
Hadjicharalambous and possessed great talent in decorating pots and
plates.
Click photo to enlarge. |
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The development of pottery making in
Lapithos was due to three main reasons:
1. Because of the argile that is reduntant in the area of Lapithos and
Mount Pentadactylos.
2. Because of the reduntancy of water supply that poured all day long.
3. Because of the skills and progressiveness of people of Lapithos.
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Famous Potters of Lapithos:
1. Demetrios Tsimouris (1855-1935). His father Tooulis, and his
grand-father Pantelis Tsimouris were also well known potters from
Lapithos. For his work he participated in many competitions abroad and he
was honored by Queen Victoria of Great Britain.
2. Costas Christodoulakis (1870-1931). Found his pottery in 1914 with the
aid of Greek and Armenian potters from Asia Minor Alecos Piperides,
Yiannis Eliades, and the Armenian Giagkoup Outzourian. These people
brought all new "technology" and secrets of pottery-making in
Cyprus from Asia Minor and helped that the trade is expanded throughout
Lapithos and the entire Cyprus.
3. Kypros and Aristophanis Hadjicharalambous. 4. Costas N. Aggioplastis -
Kalamaras 5. Theoklis and Komitis Hadjisavvas Brothers 6. Pamparides, 7.
Masonos, 8. Savvas Yiannaki, 9. Arestis Pachtaouros, 10. Yiannis tous
Giorkou from Ayios Theodoros, 11. Pavlos Katshepavlis, 11. Yiannis
Nicolaou, 12. Kouroumbis, 13. Pantechoudkia, et al. |
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The Lapithos pots, after being baked in
the oven and then decorated either by paint, or brushed by the rusted
copper to get this distinguished green color, they were brushed with
special recipies to become shining and easy to wash and clean. This
special recipe was applied ALWAYS in the inside / interior of the vases
and sometimes on the exterior as well, wherever was needed.
Click on photo to enlarge. |
