Birsk Pottery Settlement

Abstract

Pottery (ceramics) production occupied a significant place among the handicraft industries of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Factory production was unable to provide for the multi-million population of the Russian Empire, primarily those living in rural areas and small provincial towns. Therefore, pottery – the making of clay vessels and other goods – existed everywhere. In densely populated areas, specialized craft quarters developed where potters settled. This was the case in Ufa (Nizhegorodka), as well as in Birsk, the center of the vast Birsk district, which encompassed almost the entire northern part of Ufa province. There, on the northern outskirts of the city, by the early 20th century, a separate small settlement had emerged – Goncharnaya Sloboda (Goncharnaya Street). The number of pottery artisans was not particularly large, reaching a few dozen master craftsmen. Each year, a single potter, with the help of family members, produced several hundred pieces, which amply met the market's needs. In addition, the Birsk bazaars supplied the products of rural artisans, and for the wealthy segment of the population, iron, glass, and crystal tableware were always available in stores. Due to the comparatively small number of workers and their exclusive focus on local markets, pottery production has received little attention in historical sources and statistical studies compared to other crafts. Therefore, it is important to draw on new sources – data from the 1917 city census and the memoirs of Birsk residents living in the Goncharnaya Street area.

For citation: Rodnov M.I., Khakova L.K. Birsk Pottery Settlement. From History and Culture of Peoples of the Middle Volga Region. 2026, vol. 16, no. 3, pp. 82–102. https://doi.org/10.22378/2410-0765.2026-16-3.82-102 (In Russian)