	Gwari NIGERIA Dates: West Africa in general, and Nigeria in particular, has a rich ceramic tradition of handbuilt functional pottery for domestic and ceremonial use. Pottery is mainly made by women, often in village communities that specialise in the craft. Making was refined in the 1950s when Michael Cardew was recruited by the Government to set up the Pottery Training Centre at Abuja. The initial focus was to train men, but one of the best known makers was Ladi Kwali. In 1989 Assibi Iddo, a Gwari like Ladi Kwali, visited the International Potters Festival in Aberystwyth together with Asabe Magaji where they demonstrated making and firing in a traditional way. Nigerian potters make for the utility market, the tourist trade and the growing sophisticated collectors' market. Items in the collection include the Nigerial dowry pot, used in ceremonies and acquired in 1990 as well as items made at the Ceramics Festival in 1989.

Gwari NIGERIA

Dates:

West Africa in general, and Nigeria in particular, has a rich ceramic tradition of handbuilt functional pottery for domestic and ceremonial use. Pottery is mainly made by women, often in village communities that specialise in the craft. Making was refined in the 1950s when Michael Cardew was recruited by the Government to set up the Pottery Training Centre at Abuja. The initial focus was to train men, but one of the best known makers was Ladi Kwali. In 1989 Assibi Iddo, a Gwari like Ladi Kwali, visited the International Potters Festival in Aberystwyth together with Asabe Magaji where they demonstrated making and firing in a traditional way. Nigerian potters make for the utility market, the tourist trade and the growing sophisticated collectors' market.
Items in the collection include the Nigerial dowry pot, used in ceremonies and acquired in 1990 as well as items made at the Ceramics Festival in 1989.