Háj Pottery: wheel-thrown ceramics and wood-fired kilns in Háj

A potter who builds kilns

Háj is a small village in the Slovak Karst, at the mouth of the picturesque Háj valley with its waterfalls, a few kilometres from Turňa nad Bodvou. At the back of an old farmhouse here is Háj Pottery (Hájske hrnčiarstvo), run by Amália Holíková. She throws utility ware on the wheel and models it by hand, but her greatest passion is kilns: she builds copies of prehistoric and traditional wood-fired kilns herself and makes smoke-fired — black — ceramics, produced by cutting off the air supply at the end of the firing.

She has devoted more than sixteen years to pottery. She studied in neighbouring Czechia and sold her ware at historic-craft fairs — in Trnava, Kežmarok, Poprad and at Spiš Castle, where together with the Slovak National Museum she ran the "Castle Pottery" for twelve years; before that she had a workshop at the Museum of the Liptov Village in Pribylina. The family lived in Liptov for a quarter of a century, where in 2010 Amália co-founded the "Old School" craft school in Smrečany, before moving to Háj and restoring an old farmhouse. In 2014 a "Celtic kiln" appeared in the yard, later a high-temperature pottery kiln and a traditional kiln for smoke-fired ware. She teaches in the pottery studio of the ÚĽUV Craft Centre in Košice, and her ware carries the Košice Region regional quality mark.

Why go

• Buy from the potter. Ceramics are sold straight from the workshop: jugs, lidded pots, tureens, teapots, cups and bowls — from white ware with blue painting to green glazes and black smoke-fired pieces.
• Courses and firing demonstrations. In summer the potter runs courses in Háj where participants build large vessels and fire them in a field kiln, as well as open firings. In 2025, for example, Háj hosted a week-long course "Pots in Háj" (late July) and a field-kiln firing (early August), and a raku firing was demonstrated during the Open Gardens Days in June.
• Courses elsewhere. The potter also teaches away from home: throwing a tableware set and raku firing at the "Old School" in Smrečany in Liptov (July), and modelled ceramics and raku at Brdárka in Gemer (September–October). The current year’s schedule appears on her website.
• See an ancient craft. A wood-stoked field kiln is a rare sight even for people who have visited potteries before.

What to buy

The most striking pieces are the black smoke-fired ceramics with impressed and fluted patterns, reminiscent of archaeological finds. Alongside them: pale ware with spirals and sprigs in blue, green jugs and teapots with hearts, openwork bowls and jars with wooden handles. Everything is handmade, so the range changes; the potter posts current pieces on her Facebook page.

Practical information

Address: Háj 88, 044 02 Turňa nad Bodvou — a village in a valley below the Slovak Karst, about 35 km west of Košice; easiest by car. The workshop is in the yard of a private house, so always call ahead: +421 904 549 796, e-mail [email protected]. The calendar of courses and firings is published on the potter’s website; course prices on request.

Nearby

• The Háj valley — a gorge with a cascade of waterfalls just beyond the village, a lovely short walk.
• ÚĽUV Craft Centre in Košice, where the potter teaches — craft workshops and courses.
• Kaltenecker Brewery in Rožňava — Gemer craft beer.

Official website: hrnciarstvo.webnode.sk

Photos: 6bbd1192d8.cbaul-cdnwnd.com.