Khok Phra Community: Developing the Clay Pot Trade and Loss of Local Wisdom in the Decade from 1937 to 2017

Abstract

This article aims to study the development of clay pot trade among people in Khok Phra Community and the factors affected in Khok Phra Community to stop producing clay pots. The study uses an oral history methodology. The results of the study show that during the 1937-1957 the community produced pottery for sale after the completion of farming. It was based on using a cart as a vehicle for peddling. During the 1958-1987, the community turned to wheeled vehicles as a vehicle before being converted to a motorcycle, resulting in higher costs, and requiring more production at high costs. It was a range of highly concentrated production. Finally, during the decade of 1988-2017, the community went out to sell more labor. As a result, it lacked of labor in community. In addition, the clay which was a source of raw materials for making a pot was cancelled to sell to community. Hence, the pottery making of the Khok Phra Community has gradually ceased to produce pots and been replaced by stainless steel pots. The body of knowledge indicates that the community tries to adapt to the ever-changing era which can be divided into three issues in the followings: 1) first period of 1937-1957, the community adapted to the hawking with carts after agriculture completed; 2) second period of 1958-1987, villagers switched from using wagons to wheeled cars before converting to motorcycles; and 3) third period of 1988-2017, the shortage of labor, coupled with the entry of foreign capital who came to make the salt mines, therefore, the villagers switched to hiring salt boilers in order to earn money instead of selling pottery.