Pottery was a very important craft until the outbreak of the Civil War, when the last series was baked in Intriago. This pottery tradition gave rise to the name "botijos" (water vessels) in reference to the inhabitants of the municipality. The most important pottery-making centres were located in:
- Cangas de Arriba (potters’ quarter).
- Cangas (Pozu de Llobos).
- Corao (La Estrada).
- La Gargantiella (where there was once a plant).
- Intriago (Pandexiertos).
The shapes and decoration of the pieces (the ones conserved are on display in the Sobrecueva Miyar Museum in Muñigo, and remind one of those of Faro de Limanes (Oviedo), from where some of the potters in Cangas originated.
Articles made included pots (stew pots, casseroles, dishes, cooking pots...) in many of which glass was used both inside and on the outer rim; the potter of Cangas de Arriba made a very popular jar for cider or wine, red in colour, called "pusu".
Another type of craft is basket-weaving, either from small branches or sticks: hampers, baskets, baskets for carrying provisions,... This trade was based in Tornín, Caño and Margolles. As a result, basket-weaving became one of the most important industries in the municipality, and many workers gave themselves up to the trade of "weavers" or "basket-makers" during the summer months, when they travelled to other municipalities in Asturias and outside the province, to make staffs and baskets from hazelnut wood, as well as other items.
Woodwork was also an important craft: the carving of chests, coffers, adornments and kitchen utensils, such as bowls, descas, and wooden shoes.
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The watch-making trade was very important in the municipality, every since 1860, when the watchmaker Basilio Sobrecueva Mivar, a disciple of the German watchmaker, Ganter, first set up in Corao.
Pocket watches, clocks, grandfather clocks and stopwatches were made, .. The French-style clocks with weights, moving clocks or clocks with movement and sound became very famous due to their great precision. Almost all the clocks in the Vasco-Asturian Railway and “Económicos” Railway (today FEVE), were made in Corao.
In Muñigo, 7 km from Cangas de Onís, heading in the direction of Covadonga, is the Museum of Pottery and Clocks & Watches made by Basilio Sobrecueva Miyar.
Crafts that still exist are harness-making and leather embossing, quarrying, basket-making and woodcarving, with articles made by the shepherds of Covadonga (benches, tables, chairs or staffs and spoons). Many examples of this craft can be seen in la Vega de Enol, on July 25, during the Shepherd’s Festivity and in Cangas de Onís, on September 8, during the Day of Covadonga.
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