'Gurguretesque' Line Art Drawing

'Gurguretesque'

 (Line Art by Tony Fernandes)

Gurguret ~ (Water Dispenser made of clay)

Thirst quencher of yesteryear - cool water with an 'earthy' flavour. I'd call it an earthenware 'refrigerator'. Artfully crafted out by Goan potters, this timeless piece of pottery is a natural water cooler found in many Goan homes. Based on the fact and principle of common knowledge that evaporation causes cooling, unglazed earthenware pottery chills liquids because of evaporation through the microscopic porous clay.

It is a very popular item that is sold in the dedicated clay market area in major towns and cities in Goa. Its main feature is the spout which is reminiscent of the famous head of the Portuguese Barcelos rooster or Galo de Barcelos.

It the old days many folks in Goa covered long distances walking from place to place. During the summer months is was not uncommon to see this type of coolers along with a cup or glass outside the houses located on the roadside so that people could quench their thirst. This may be unbelievable, but I have walked with my mother and my aunt nine times from Guirim to Tivim for Novenas to Our Lady of Perpetual Succour in the early 1960's, and I have quenched my thirst from such water-coolers along the way.