User:Louisqgaots/Dan Kwian Pottery Village

Dan Kwian Village (Thai: ด่านเกวียน) in Amphoe Choke Chai (Thai: โชคชัย) in the Changwat Nakorn Ratchasima (Thai: นครราชสีมา) is known for its pottery and handicrafts. The village name Dan Kwian means toll station or check point (Thai: ด่าน) for oxcarts (Thai: เกวียน). Dan Kwian sits at a narrows of the Mun (Thai: แม่น้ำมูล) river and was convenient river crossing point. The pottery village is said to have started around 1740 although this date has not been verified. This same account statea that the pottery was started with Mon (Thai: มอญ) refuges similar to the potters of Koh Kred or Kred Island. This claim although popularly held may not be accurate. Prior to approximately 1972 nearly all the products of Dan Kwian were functional pottery. Common thrown forms were 10-15 gallon water storage jars, fermented fish paste jars, mortars, and basins. There is no evidence of tableware production at Dan Kwian.

Starting in about 1972 more decorative ware started to be made in Dankwean. At first this decorative ware was simply water jars with decoration carved into the surface. Since then the decorative ware has expanded to include more decorative vessel forms,clay tile, carved ceramic murals, ceramic jewelry, and free standing sculpture. Other media are also now produced in Dan Kwian, most notably cement based carved sandstone replicas.