Craftsmen in Kirkuk keep clay oven tradition alive

KIRKUK, August 2 – The art of making traditional clay ovens, called “tannour,” has been passed down from generation to generation in Kirkuk’s Garaj Al-Shamal district.

Tariq Kirkuki and some twenty workers continue this traditional craftsmanship, aiming to sell as many ovens as possible each month.

The specific clay used for their craft is sourced from land near the oil wells in Dibis district. The clay reportedly contains minerals that can withstand high temperatures and forms a more cohesive and elastic structure compared to regular soil.

Kirkuki told 964: “We have been engaged in this craft for fifteen years now, inheriting it from our ancestors. On a daily basis, we create around twenty clay ovens, ranging in size from small to large.”

“We receive numerous orders from rural residents, as well as owners of Eastern-style restaurants. We even receive orders from migrants in Europe, and we manage to deliver the ovens to them despite the high shipping costs, which can reach up to $1,000 for each oven sent abroad.”

“Local shops in Kirkuk also place orders, as they intend to resell the ovens. Regarding the prices, they start at 50,000 Iraqi dinars and can go up to 150,000 dinars, depending on the size and technical specifications.”