We Love Oman: Traditional pottery industry in Bahla

Bahla in Al Dhahirah Governorate is famous for pottery-making and it has been one of the main producers of pottery. Jihal is the most traditional pottery item. It has a pointed shape with a beak and in olden times these were used to store water inside.

The clay prevented the water from getting warm and kept it fresh at room temperature.The red khuroos, round and with flat base, were used for dates storage. Their smaller version was used to store dates, syrup or honey.

Thicker and stronger than Jihal and Khuroos, brams were mostly used for cooking. The pots were fired inside kilns, the thermally insulated chambers. The kilns were initially built as little domes but they evolved through the years into multi-level constructions of big capacity. Clay is the main component of pottery and is widely available in Bahla where the soil is rich in clay.