The turquoise of Istalif
In a hillside town famous for its pottery, Ustad Rahimullah still throws on a kick wheel and fires in a wood kiln.
Istalif has been known for its pottery for generations, and for one colour above all: a bright, glassy turquoise you can spot across a market.
Ustad Rahimullah has worked clay in the town since he was a boy. He still uses a kick wheel, turned by foot, and says the slower speed lets him feel the clay move.
From river clay to glaze
The clay is dug locally, soaked, trodden and left to rest before it is thrown. Once shaped, each piece dries for days in the shade so it doesn't crack, then it's dipped in glaze made from local minerals and plant ash.
The kiln
Firing is a whole day's work. The wood kiln has to be fed steadily for hours, and the temperature is judged by the colour of the flame. When the kiln is opened the next morning, every piece is a small surprise: the glaze pools and runs differently each time.
Vases, teapots and bowls from the workshop are now listed on Omid, each photographed as it came out of the kiln.
