Rodica and Costel Mocanu specialise in pottery.

Rodica and Costel Mocanu are the primary architects behind the revival of traditional pottery in the village of Tansa. Their journey began upon their return from abroad, when Rodica joined the “Tansa, a Place of History” project—an initiative dedicated to establishing a local museum and, most importantly, breathing life back into the village’s vanished craft heritage.

“Tansa was once one of the largest craft centers in the central Moldavian Plateau,” Rodica explains. “I was asked if I wanted to learn pottery and I agreed, not fully realising what lay ahead. I began my apprenticeship under Master Daniel Ifrim, the son of Dumitru Ifrim—a man honored as a ‘Living Human Treasure’ by UNESCO for preserving the ceramic heritage of the nearby Schitu Stavnic region.”

While Rodica mastered the technical foundations within six months, the true challenge lay in capturing the distinct character of Tansa ceramics. Known for being both functional and highly decorative, this specific style featured unique patterns that had nearly been forgotten. Despite a history where over 60 families once practiced the craft, the tradition had completely disappeared over the last 30 years.

Through intense research and sheer determination, Rodica spent years uncovering the secrets of Tansa pottery. She hunted for surviving pieces in local homes and studied museum collections, using trial and error to recreate the authentic forms. Supported by mentors such as Daniel Ifrim and ethnographer Marcel Lutic, the Mocanus have successfully transformed a dying art into a living part of their daily lives, ensuring that Tansa’s cultural identity remains intact.