At the wheel before dawn
A morning in an El Mina workshop, from wet clay to the first firing.
Published 23 Oct 2026
What the video shows and says
The wheel turns slowly while two hands shape wet clay into a jug. No speech; the sound of the wheel and water.
Clay from the hills
The clay comes from the hills above Tripoli. It is soaked for three days, then worked by hand until it is smooth.
Throwing
Each jug is thrown on a kick wheel. No two are the same, and that is the point.
- The neck is pulled last
- The handle is added the next morning
- Every piece dries slowly in the shade
See the pieces in the shop.
Made by their hands
The vendors
Pieces in this story
Extra virgin olive oil
Asal al-Jabal4.3 out of 5 stars, 11 reviewsFrom $17.60
Mountain za’atar
Asal al-Jabal3.7 out of 5 stars, 3 reviewsFrom $10.70
Pomegranate molasses
Asal al-Jabal4.4 out of 5 stars, 8 reviews$11.85