The Potter’s Wheel in the Chilean Central Valley

to wheel-thrown ware in a modern context is considered. The many different sources supplemented by
fieldwork provide a long-term perspective and a depiction of its present consequences. It is specifically
explained, how an indigenous, hand-made, domestic and female pottery-production system has turned
into an essentially male, wheel-thrown and workshop activity.
After a series of significant events, the Indian village of Pomaire gained a reputation as a potter’s
village. The several changes underwent by its population as regards to pottery production makes it
an interesting example to analyse the origin and development of a process of technological change
which ended up with the displacement of women from pottery-making and the introduction of the
means for mechanised production during the 1980s. Thus, the social and technical transformations
which have taken place since colonial times (beginning of the 16th century), for the potters of Pomaire
are explained, enlarged on their history in order to contribute to a general reflection.