Handicrafts Pottery

Pottery is described as the "Lyric of handicrafts" — moulded like a poetic composition with sensual appeal. Making objects out of clay is one of humanity's earliest crafts. The earliest evidence of clay pottery in India has been found at the Neolithic site of Mehrgarh (now in Pakistan), dated to 6000 BC. **Historical Pottery Types (Archaeologically Significant):** - **Painted Grey Ware (PGW):** Typically grey in colour; associated with the Vedic period (1500–600 BC) - **Red and Black Pottery:** Dated 1500–300 BC; found in large parts of West Bengal - **Northern Black Polished Ware (NBPW):** Two phases — first 700–400 BC; second 400–100 BC. Partially coincides with the Mauryan period - **Roulette Pottery:** Southern India; dated 200–100 BCE; most evidence from Arikamedu near Puducherry - **Gupta Period Pottery:** New decorative techniques — embellishments, painting, stamping, moulding - **Indo-Islamic Tradition:** Glazed pottery introduced **Terracotta:** Literally means "baked earth" — semi-fired ceramic clay. Made waterproof and hard through firing, suitable for sculpting and architectural use. Best specimens include: - **Bankura Horse** and Panchmura Horse: Bankura district, West Bengal - **Terracotta Temples:** Bankura district - Buddhist viharas of the **Pala period** = best specimens of ancient terracotta art **Regional Pottery Centres (UPSC Table):** | Pottery | Place | Features | |---|---|---| | Khurja Pottery | UP | Colourful, sturdy; household items | | Black Pottery | Azamgarh, UP | Special dark tint | | Glazed Tiles | Chunar and Chinhat | Special glazing techniques | | Blue Pottery | Jaipur | Made of Multani Mitti (Fuller's Earth) | | Kagzi Pottery | Alwar | Delicate, thin, slightly brittle | | Pokhran Pottery | Pokhran | Household items | | Dalgate Pottery | Jammu & Kashmir | Special glaze | | Karigari Pottery | Tamil Nadu | South Arcot centres | | Surai | West Bengal | Common jugware | | Black Pottery | Ukhrul/Manipur | Special black tint in glaze | | Gopichandan | Saurashtra | Art objects of clay | **Glassware (related craft):** First Indian reference to glassmaking is in the Mahabharata. First material evidence: glass beads from Painted Grey Ware culture of Ganges Valley (~1000 BC). Vedic text Satapatha Brahmana uses term "kanch" or "kaca" for glass. Archaeological evidence of glass industry at Brahmapuri and Kolhapur, Maharashtra (2 BC–2 AD). Famous glass products: - Hyderabad: glass bangles called 'Churikajodas' - Firozabad: glass chandeliers - Saharanpur, UP: 'panchkora' (glass toys) - Patna, Bihar: 'Tikuli' (decorative glass beads; worn by Santhal tribes)