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Pagburnayan: Vigan’s Pride

Posted on August 20, 2006

Vigan, aside from its cobblestone streets, is known for its pottery. Vigan is known for its burnay. A large jar made of clay used to store water, or bagoong. It is also being used to store coconut wine make vinegar.

Pagburnayan, Vigan

The process of making a burnay jar is long and tedious. first, the top section or the mouth of the jar will be formed and dried for 4 days. The bottom part of the jar will then be formed and dried also for 4 days. After drying, this will now be connected together using wet piece of cloth, and a small piece of wood to even the surface.

Pagburnayan, Vigan

Once done it will be left to dry completely. During the summer months it will take about 8 days to dry the entire piece of burnay. On rainy season it will take up to a month to dry it.

After drying the burnay, itwill then be placed inside the kiln or pugon for one and a half day.

A burnay artisan told me that aside from its household use, a large number of people buy this Vigan masterpiece as a garden and house decor.

Although there are a thousand and one design one can think of in making a jar, the photo above shows what a traditional burnay looks like:rimmed mouth, large top section and a small base.

An authentic Vigan burnay would cost you approximately 900 pesos each.

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