Geoff Crispin

Oman

1990 Iworked as a Ceramic consultant for the United Nations, Oman. ( 1 month)

Feasibility study for setting up a ceramic manufacturing facility utilising Oman raw materials including manufacturing layout and capital costings, and study of indigenous ceramic activities to determine the needs and wants of traditional craftspeople both men and women who maintained totally separate making practices. The women in south making small hand built items. The men making pots in the north using the coil throw method.

Devise export product that would carry Oman cultural iconography and present Oman culture to the world. This was to make containers to send frankinsence around the world.

This required a survey of possible ceramic resources liaison with the Geological Survey Geologists
and preliminary testing.

Projected employment directly 35-40 people and additional craftspeople

Camels in the Middle East! How many on the back of the ute?

Man in Bhala using the coil throw method of making pots.

The clay contains a high proportion of limestone and so the string is used to hold the shape until stiff.

Kilns, date palms and oasis.

Unpaking the kiln at Bahala

Making big pots in the factory suported by the Chinese government.

Woman in southern part of Oman making pots by hand. Usually incense burners.