Imagine a world where the pottery wheel has been spinning for decades, where every piece of clay turns into art, and tradition is treasured like gold. Welcome to the workshop of the Furunović family from Kragujevac, one of the roughly twenty remaining families in Serbia still practicing this ancient craft. It all started many years ago in Gnjilane, where the great-great-grandfather began the story, and the grandfather opened a pottery workshop in Priština in the mid-20th century. War forced them to move to Kragujevac, but the wheel never stopped turning. Aleksandar Furunović and his brothers continue the family tradition today, crafting both practical and artistic ceramic items — from coffee mugs to church candlesticks.
But it’s not all rosy. Pottery is becoming rarer, and masters are fewer. Still, demand for genuine, handmade clay items is growing. Aleksandar and his wife Hristina, an academic painter, create unique pieces together, slowly introducing their children to the world of pottery. Every item tells a story, a piece of the buyer’s soul. But will this craft survive in an age of molds, cheap copies, and mass production? The Furunović family believes it will, because tradition and love for the craft can’t be bought.
Just imagine — sitting all day at the wheel, mixing clay with secret recipes, firing and glazing, creating something that lasts. It’s not a job for everyone, but for the Furunović family, it’s a lifelong calling. While the world rushes toward the modern and fast, they preserve what truly matters — art, tradition, and soul in every piece of clay. If you’ve ever sipped coffee from one of their mugs, you know what we mean.
So, what about you? Could you sit all day making mugs and plates? Or are you more into instant plastic? Drop a comment and let’s see who’s for real art and who’s for quick buys!
