In her atelier, Donia Desidera makes her pottery according to Lenca ancestral traditions. Prior to shaping, the clay must be prepared. Kneading involves manipulating the clay like kneading dough for bread. Then the lump of clay is repeatedly thrown down on the workbench. Between each operation, the lump is turned, cut through and rejoined in a different orientation. The object is to disperse the water uniformly throughout the clay body, to remove lamination and the air trapped. Once a clay body has been kneaded, it is shaped, dried and then fired.