In Zlakusa, a small village exuding naturalness, hospitality and beauty, famous earthenware is still made.
Diligent hands of artisans from Zlakusa still protect the four centuries old pottery making technique; earthenware is made using a slow wheel and fired in open fire which is very rare in this region.
It is a unique experience to walk through alleys and streets of Zlakusa, a small village near Potpeće cave. Beautiful nature that surrounds it, old village houses turned into restaurants with well-maintained hearths and backyards full of Zlakusa earthenware evoke the image of real Serbian village idyll.
Even though it is famous for its beautiful nature, imposing cave and outdoor museum “Terzića avlija”, Zlakusa gained worldwide fame because of the clay pots that are made here, using an old and unchanged technique. Artisan potters from Zlakusa make excellent pots, đuvečare (similar tocasserole), sač (a lid made of metal or ceramic) and many other dishes.
Pottery is made in various sizes, shapes and with different motifs. Many people use them as ornaments for their homes, offices, restaurants or backyards; but this is not the primary use of these handmade and unique items.
Even though it is beautiful, pottery made in Zlakusa is more than a common dish.
Everyone who tried some of the specialties from Serbian cuisine made in these dishes knows what it is all about. Food prepared in Zlakusa pottery has a special taste and smell.
Additionally, preparing food in these pots is healthy and the food gets a special and rich taste, which cannot be obtained in a regular dish.
Pots and other earthenware are made out of processed clay called “gnjila” which is dug in Vranjani village, near Požega. The clay is mixed with white/whitish stone – calcite, which is obtained from Rupljevo village out of a more than two hundred years old mine.Clay is mixed with crushed calcite in 1:1 ratio, which enables making of bigger pots.
The secret of Zlakusa pottery is not a strictly guarded secret. Locals who make these pots often let curious tourist to watch them during the process. However, hard work, lots of effort and experience are required to mastering this very old craft. That is why Zlakusa in the only place where pottery is still made using a centuries old technique on wooden and hand-powered wheels.
The thing that makes Zlakusa pottery different from other earthenware is that the pots are made from a mix of stone and clay. Other potters, who are not from Zlakusa, make earthenware only out of clay; because of that their dishes can only be used as ornaments or for serving food, whereas Zlakusa pottery can also be used for cooking.
The methods of shaping are yet another thing that is special about Zlakusa pottery what actually made Serbia a unique place in Europe. There are three methods of shaping pottery: without a wheel, with a hand-powered wheel and with a foot-powered wheel. All of these methods are still used in Zlakusa.
“Autumn in Zlakusa” is an arts and cultural event held in Zlakusa since 1992. Until 2009 one of the two international ceramics colonies was also held as a part of this event, 2009 was also the year when the “Pottery fest” began. Side programs held during the festival are the arts colony, competitions in cooking old and traditional Serbian food in Zlakusa pottery, futsal tournament, tug of war (rope pulling) competition, voluntary blood donation, book promotions and interesting arts and culture program.
Nowadays around twenty households in Zlakusa still make these dishes. All of them are still using the old technique; the only novelty is a stone crushing machine. Everything else is the same as it was four hundred years ago. Artisan potters will transfer their knowledge to the next generation, which will prevent this valuable art from being forgotten.
It is nice to visit Zlakusa during the whole year. Fascinating nature, which remains beautiful from January to December, numerous interesting events and delicious food made in famous Zlakusa pottery are just some of the reasons why you should visit this place.
Zlakusa pottery in diaspora and world
Even the people who do not live in Serbia have heard about artisan potters from Zlakusa and their four centuries old technique of making earthenware. Many tourists who visited Zlakusa had an opportunity to try traditional Serbian dishes made in these famous pots and to enjoy in their specific taste.
International eco camp is also held in Zlakusa and it brings together students from different countries, such as: Korea, Germany, Sweden, Poland, France, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Greece, Turkey, Russia etc. They cleaned walkways, but they also had an opportunity to explore and to familiarize themselves with this unique part of Serbia and the methods of making Zlakusa pottery.
Products from Zlakusa are sought after in diaspora. People from Serbia are aware of the value and importance of these pots and of the specific taste the food gets when it is prepared in them. That is why they gladly buy these products and at the same time protect the Serbian tradition.