Almost every region in Morocco has got small cooperatives of potters that specialize in the manufacture of all ceramic products; from ceramic tagines to water jugs. All these wares have now become serious tourist items, and these have absolutely increased the demand and production. These products find a lot of market in two of the most common cities for travelers in Morocco that are found in Fez and Meknes. The pottery of this region is rooted in the ceramic styles of Safi and is in light-greenish color.
Also, because of carpets, textiles plus other valuable handicrafts that are produced there, Morocco is largely known all across North Africa and Europe for its earthenware and ceramic objects. Safi, Fez and Meknes are the three most known regions in the production of this and they do their sales near the capital city of Rabat. However every region has got its own style and color design. A number of Moroccans claim that the best pottery with the most refined artistic flavor is in Safi where ceramics have had a great deal of time to be perfected.
The ceramic objects in Morocco undergo the same processes just as may be the case anywhere else in the world where pottery is valued. The potter has to first work the clay on a spinning wheel and the process can take somewhat from ten minutes for an item like a bowl, to sometime even more than three hours for something as huge as a jug. The clay after being molded is then set outside to dry and it is here that these bowls, the large serving dishes as well as jugs are separated according to their kind.
After they have dried up, this pottery is then taken to the kiln which most times especially in the countryside areas, is fueled with wood, leaves, and also gathered branches. This process however is not all that environmentally stable as it used to be. This is principally due to the volume of pottery being created and so the resources for another type of firing process are limited.
Once these ceramic wares have been fired then the decorative stage follows beginning the designs that are always dependent upon the region where the ceramic objects are produced. You will find that some of the more traditional tribes of the Berbers have got patterns that they have been using for as old as 200 years.
Within the northern Berber villages of Morocco, the pottery is likely to have a more rustic and earth-tone presentation. Here, jugs and other ceramic objects are not decorated in every Moroccan household like those rather colorful items that are displayed for sale on the streets of Fez and Marrakesh. This pottery is mostly used by the somewhat wealthy families as well as those families that are having a celebration, such as a wedding or any other big cultural celebration.
Normally, the pottery that is put on display in certain regions is meant to tell a story about the influences of that particular area. For example, the pottery of Safi comes from Andalusia because of its shiny and metallic looks. Also, the pottery of Fez and that of Safi are very closely related than ever before. But on the other hand, pottery in Fez tends to be somewhat brown, yellow or sometimes green having a white background. Meknes, which is said to have adopted its methods of pottery making from Fez, has got the famous metallic-green kind of pottery that is normally on display in a number of artistic institutions all across Morocco.
For those travelers who may be looking for those items that would make a really great gift or even those that would bring back the memories of their time in Morocco, then think of some of the easiest types of ceramic objects to move around with in your pack as plates, small jugs, and also tea sets. Checking through the pottery markets of different places, you are most likely to find a color, style and type that match your own preferences and your home interior decoration. Pottery is absolutely an authentic souvenir, just as much as any other handcrafted item, that will remind you about the time you spent in this great country of the Sahara.