Uyghur Traditional Mold-made Pottery Craft

The Uyghur mold-made pottery craft has evolved over 2,000 years along the Silk Road, serving as a testament to cultural exchanges between East and West. This entirely hand-made technique has been passed down through oral tradition and hands-on mentorship across generations, primarily practiced in Kashgar, Yengisar and Turpan.  

In Kashgar, artisans use raw local clay without processing, shaping it through primitive hand-molding techniques. Yengisar produces both unglazed pottery and glazed ware with mineral glazes containing aluminum and iron oxides, yielding vibrant green, brown and yellow hues after firing. Turpan developed three subtypes: unglazed, monochrome glazed and polychrome glazed pottery, showcasing more refined craftsmanship.  

These simple yet elegant wares blend Buddhist and Arabic motifs. However, with modernization, the craft is dying out - from over 100 family workshops in 1949 to just 11 today, remaining only 17 artisans mastering the complete craft.