The craft of pottery in Banat, past and present. case study: the pottery Center in Jupânești (Timiș county)

Abstract

The continuity of pottery workshops in Banat is closely linked to the development of metallurgy and mining, especially under Austrian rule, but the craft of pottery has been present in the region for millennia. There were numerous production centers in the area: Biniș, Sasca Română, Potoc, Socolari, Slatina-Nera, Ilidia, Moldova Veche, Lăpușnicul Mare, Carașova-Caraș, Birchiș, and Jupânești-Timiș. Following research conducted in the 1980s, additional centers were identified in Baloșești, Cenad, Dalboșeț, Făget, Lipova, Moceriș, Răchita, Saravale, Șag, Șopotu-Nou, ȘopotuVechi, and Temerești, within the counties of Caraș, Timiș, and the surrounding area of Arad. Today, only one active center remains: Jupânești (Timiș County). Banat pottery is considered of Roman origin, more specifically, red pottery fired in the presence of oxygen. Among these, Jupânești pottery is characterized by specific features and distinct qualities: the fine paste with a reddish hue, the elegance of the shapes, and the distinctiveness of the geometric decoration, which is only done in red. The pottery center in Jupânești, the last active workshop in Banat, demonstrates the age and continuity of this craft in this region of our country. This continuity, though adapted to new coordinates, carries on the tradition of Banat pottery through its last potter. The challenge of preserving the authenticity of this craft in an ever-changing world remains an important topic of debate.