Century-old pottery tradition endures in Baghdad’s Sadr City

BAGHDAD — For over a century, the Al-Kawaz family has preserved the art of pottery-making, passing it down through four generations. Despite the decline of this craft in the face of industrial advancements and an influx of imported goods, Hassan Ali Al-Kawaz, a 75-year-old potter, remains steadfast in his commitment to a family legacy.

“I inherited this craft from my father, who inherited it from my grandfather. Now my son practices it as well,” Hassan told 964media. “We have a small workshop in Nahrawan, after relocating from Khan Bani Saad and Al-Azim. Today, I live and work in Sadr City, where I’ve been practicing my trade since 1995.”

Hassan recalls a time when pottery was in high demand, especially during religious and folkloric celebrations. “In the past, I used to sell an entire truckload of pottery every week, including more than 50 clay water jars,” he said.

The peak season for pottery coincided with celebrations like Zakaria Day in the Islamic month of Sha’ban, when traditional decorations relied heavily on local crafts. Hassan used to supply wholesale markets in Shorja and Kifah. However, imported decorative items from China and Iran have since dominated the market.

While demand for pottery has significantly decreased, it hasn’t disappeared entirely. “We still receive orders from southern and northern regions of Iraq. The most requested items are the kooz [a clay jug] and traditional hab al-maa [water jars],” Hassan explained.