Ancient Greek pottery techniques honoured by UNESCO
Reuters
On the Greek island of Lesbos, 70-year-old Dimitris Kouvdis keeps ancient pottery techniques alive in his seaside workshop near Mandamados, a former pottery hub.
His family’s work, crafted from local clay and fired in a traditional olive pit-fuelled kiln, has been recognised by UNESCO as part of Greece’s National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
While factory machines now dominate production, Kouvdis remains dedicated to the slower, traditional methods, painting pieces with natural lime. "It's an honour," he said of the UNESCO recognition, acknowledging the challenges of sustaining such labour-intensive craftsmanship.
Despite the pressures of modernisation, Kouvdis continues his work overlooking the Aegean, driven by his passion for the art.
Reuters
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