Matthias Schawerda

Ceramicist

©Benvenuto Pobaschnig

©Schawerda

The stove maker

Matthias builds unique tiled stoves
He uses local materials with special properties
He expresses innovation with form and material

Clay has always been the material of choice for Matthias Schawerda, in his childhood gathered from the dugout of a well in the backyard, then later from the clay pit of a defunct brick factory. The first firing attempts were made in a campfire, but Matthias quickly progressed to work with a simple wood-fired clay oven and sold his first workpieces at the age of 13. “The first objects I made and sold were ordered fakes of “historical Indian ceramics” for an exhibition. The originals could not be delivered from Central America in time, so my replicas were used instead”. At 16 he wanted to drop out of high school and start a ceramics apprenticeship. Influenced by his parents he had to postpone this idea until he was 18, but ever since Matthias has been developing his skills in working with clay and gaining unique experience in building tiled stoves.

Interview

©Schawerda

©Benvenuto Pobaschnig

How is your craft connected to your living environment?: A significant part of my living environment is connected to my work and my workshop. In my work, many people have become close friends. I feel fortunate that the premises of my workshop, our house and the garden that surrounds it have such an essential meaning for my life that goes beyond the practice of my craft.
Where do you source your raw materials?: The clay comes from a dugout just a few kilometres away from Kautzen, it is a very special clay that can be turned very thinly and delicately but also has a very coarse texture due to spar grains that expand during the firing. I can find all the raw materials for a stoneware glaze within 50 metres of the workshop.
Do you feel a responsibility to preserve tradition?: We practice tradition in our craft every day, as we have been using the same tools and materials for centuries. But replicating traditional shapes and decorations would be too little, even though there is hardly anything that has not been done before. Innovations often lie in an independent expression of form and material.
How do you hand down a “living tradition”?: It is not about instructions on how to do something. We need to arouse curiosity and enthusiasm for our craft; give the confidence to handle the materials, encourage an open mind and the courage to experiment, to critically question and to have a pride in one's creations. This is what I want to impart to young ceramicists.

Matthias Schawerda is a master artisan: he began his career in 1988 and he started teaching in 2015