LA CHAMBA CERAMICS

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LA CHAMBA CERAMICS

• LA CHAMBA, TOLIMA
• COLOMBIA

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BACKGROUND

• LA CHAMBA, TOLIMA
• COLOMBIA

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BACKGROUND
Territorial Extension Geographically, La Chamba
belongs to El Guamo municipality which has an
extension of 561 km2. Localization La Chamba
is located 84 km from Ibague, capital city of
Tolima department. Weather Aspects La Chamba
is located 350 M over see level and has a
temperature of 28 C all year long. Hydrograph
Midtown La Chamba is 10 minutes away from
Magdalena River Population 1800 inhabitants,
distributed in 312 families for an average of 6
people per family. Handcraft Tradition 90 of
the population lives from the black and red
ceramic production.
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BACKGROUND
Main Road
Tipical Houses
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BACKGROUND
Magdalena River
Clay Extraction
Production Tools
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PRODUCTION PROCESS

• LA CHAMBA, TOLIMA
• COLOMBIA

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CLAY PREPARATION

• Clay mixture is made out of sandy clay and fine
  clay. These clays are mixed with water and must
  include the right proportions. If for example the
  mixture as too much sandy clay the piece will
  break in the kiln and with little sandy clay the
  piece will become too fragile.

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PRODUCT SHAPING

• Clay mixture must be properly kneaded and piece
  is formed by hand as needed. In some cases there
  are matrixes that permit you to mold specific
  shapes.

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ENGOBE

• Once the product has been shaped engobe is
  applied in 100 of the surface. This engobe
  permits the piece to be shined once it has dried.

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SHINE

• This process is done once the piece is almost
  dried with agatha stone. This process gives the
  piece a special shine very characteristic of the
  final product.

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SUN DRIED

• After the products have been shined and are
  dried. The pieces are placed under the sun, so
  they warm up before introducing them in metal
  cans, otherwise they will crack when put into the
  kiln.

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WOOD PREPARATION AND START OF FIRING PROCESS

• The traditional kiln works with wood (ATA has
  designed a special gas kiln see picture in the
  next page, increasing production capacity, final
  quality of products and decreasing risk of burns
  when manipulating). Firing temperature is not
  higher than 800C low fire. Temperature must be
  even around the metal cans. Firing time is around
  1 ½ hours.

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New kiln designed by Aid to Artisans
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SMOKE PROCESS

• After 2 hours of firing, the metal cans are taken
  off the kiln and are opened and special material
  is added to generate smoke that will turn the
  ceramics black.

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AHUMADO

• The special material burning procedure generates
  a fire that when it is extinguished by covering
  tha cans the smoke turns the pottery black. This
  smoke must circulate in the can for 10 minutes
  before it is uncovered.

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FINAL PRODUCT

• When the cans are uncovered and the smoke
  dissipates the finished pieces can be removed
  from the can and are cleaned up.

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PACKING

• After quality control, all the products are
  packed in order to dispatch to local and
  international market.

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MOLDS

• LA CHAMBA, TOLIMA
• COLOMBIA

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MOLDS
Larger bowls and tureens with lid 8 in diam. x
8,5 in H
Mold for soup bowls and tureens with lid 6,25 in
diam. x 6,5 in H
Plate / Tray 12 in x 2,5 in H
Tray with lid 9,5 in x 4,75 in H
Oval serving dish 14,5 in x 11,5in x 2,5 in H
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KILN BENEFITS

• LA CHAMBA, TOLIMA
• COLOMBIA

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KILN BENEFITS

• AFTER
• During rainy season in the region, the artisans
  can do the firing process 24 hours a day.
• The production capacity is 400 cans per month
• The income has increased 25 per year
• The quality is uniform and the broken index is
  each time less
• The firing and haumado process is safe and good
  for the health of the artisans
• FOB sales for USD 250,000.

• BEFORE
• During rainy reason in the region, the firing
  process could be stopped for 2 -3 months.
• The production capacity was 132 cans per months.
• The income was stable but didn't increased
  because they were working at full capacity
• The quality wasn't uniform and the broken index
  was very high.
• The firing and haumado process is not good for
  the health of the artisans.
• FOB sales for USD 125,000.