Born in the Clay

Born in the Clay is the definitive guide to the history, techniques and current practitioners of ceramic art in Uzbekistan, a uniquely vibrant and distinctive tradition.

Ceramic art is one of Uzbekistan's oldest and most renowned forms of applied art, which in 2023 was inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Through engaging accounts of the work of current ceramists from across the country and beautiful new photography of these artists and their finest work, Born in the Clay introduces this fascinating subject to new audiences across the world. Authors Rolando Montecalvo and Dinara Dultaeva take readers on a cultural tour - beginning in the capital, Tashkent, and ranging across the Fergana Valley, Bukhara, Khorezm, Samarkand and Andijan - and present an enlightening and accessible account of the history and techniques of Uzbek ceramics. Born in the Clay is the definitive guide to this uniquely vibrant and distinctive artistic tradition.