Clay & Factory

08.00 Tuesday morning there was a car waiting (organized kindly by the town of Aizpute), ready to drive us 150 km to get some clay materials from the last existing ceramic factory in Latvia.  

Keramika LV, which is located in Jelgava, wasn´t expecting us that early, so we had to sit in the sun for an hour and do some yoga moves.

We were such good customers that we got toured around the factory by the office manager. They asked if the clay was for our own use or for some camp.. Apparently private persons don´t come there often to buy so much clay. Here is the clay mining department with a grinder.

  

I asked if do they do other materials as well, like porcelaine. "This is not china.", he replied.
This is obviously a local factory for local clay.

Vacuum pressing machine

Glazing facilities

They do earthenware dishes and one of the biggest article is balsam bottles! Here´s some in front of a gas kiln. So while they were loading the car we went to pay. It took two people and 15 minutes to make the bill and then receipts, which I needed to sign in three copies. The transaction felt very official.
The rest of the day went by casting and fixing more molds. Some were left till Wednesday still, but we are getting there.