Clay art is probably the earliest of man`s creations. Clay art in India has a copious history dating back to well over 10,000 years. According to myths and traditions clay art was originated by the Potter. Potter the synonym of Prajapati is also revered as Brahma, the creator, created human beings from clay. According to mythology, when Lord Shiva came to marry Sati, the need of an earthen pot was required. So Lord Shiva took two beads from his necklace and gave birth to a male and female forms who are the first moulders of "Kumbha". So the potter is also known as kumar, kumhaar or kumhar.
The main instrument of clay art or in pottery is a potter`s wheel which is a selection of paddles and stone anvils. The potter enlarges and shapes it by beating when the new pot is dry enough to stand handling. The decoration of the pots differs depending on the different places, regions and individual. Pots for ceremonial use like marriages are painted brightly to give them a gaudy look that suits the purpose and occasion
Indian history bears the history of development of clay art. Terracotta art as a distinctive feature of clay art gradually evolved. Apart from creating the structure of deities, figures, vessels, terracotta was vastly used in architectural construction also. The temples of Murshidabad, Birbhum , Bankura, Bishnupur , Hooghly ,some of the Budhha Vihaaras of Pala period, Some mosques of the Mughal dynasty are exemplary of awesome architecture of terracotta which still bears the logo of architectural development of clay art in India.
Archeological evidences of the fragments of pottery and clay art echoes the past culture through the colour, design and appearance. These are also indicative of the developments and movements of the land. In the long gone days of the Harappa civilization, Burnt bricks had been used to create the towns. The ancient pots which were manufactured in the long gone era of Harappa civilization had quite a contemporary design. The pots were fired and then painted to give that desirable look.
Jhuker pottery a famous clay art in India has its roots deeply associated with Harappan civilization. The clay art which developed in the Harappa civilization gained quite a chic form during the Vedic era. According to the archeological discovery in western Uttar Pradesh, the most acclaimed clay art in the late Vedic period was the "Red Ware". Another notable form of clay art of the Vedic period was "Painted Grey Ware" which comprises dishes, bowls which were used during the rituals and ceremonies for meal. During the initiation period of the second phase of urbanization in India another form of clay art came into existence that was Northern Black Polished Ware or NBP. Northern Black Polished Ware was a kind of pottery where a very glossy and lustrous kind of fabric was used.
As the clay art developed , black pottery as another form of clay art became popular in India. The blackening involves the firing in a closed hearth and the smoke arises from the hearth colours the terracotta. The process of Black Pottery is more luxurious in Nizamabad(Uttar Pradesh). The process indulges the carving of the designs on the dry surface then they are fired and after firing the carvings are filled with paint made from a mixture of mercury and zinc. Some pots, when they are hot are painted with raw lacquer and a black, glossy, non- porous surface is produced.
Clay art also involves the making of clay beads, "jbanvan" for cleaning the feet, "hookahs" and "chillums" for smoking tobacco. Even clay art in India associates the making of some of the architectural elements such as "Jali" (trellised screens) and tiles. Miniature toys, utensils, animals and human figures of various casts and occupation are available in bright colours and fabulous designs and are often used as an element of decoration. Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh) and Krishnanagar(West Bengal) are famous for producing umpteen amount and variety of miniature idols. Even the religious festivals demand the clay images of the deity which are hugely manufactured in Kumartully and Patuapara of Kolkata.
A sheer modernization of clay art in India happened with the introduction of the Chinese and Persian porcelain art which was brought in India by the Mughals. The porcelain tableware came into demand for the Koranic disapproval of silver and gold table wares. During the Sultanate period in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, India proceeded with its own manufactory of blue pottery. Ram Singh, an innovative ruler was the person who fetched the craft from Delhi to Jaipur and then onwards the craft preceded its growth and now proved to be the principle manufacturer.
