![]() Types of clay crafts 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 archaeological 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. Another form of clay art came into existence was Northern Black Polished Ware. Northern Black Polished Ware was a kind of pottery where a very glossy and lustrous kind of fabric was used. ![]() 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 and Krishnanagar in 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. Terracotta is an important form of pottery. In fact terracotta is the most common form of pottery in India. Various figures are made in terracotta. Terracotta figures serve as show pieces in many of the Indian households. In India clay images made as votive offerings for tribal shrines are sold at fairs organised by government departments, and end up as decorative pieces in city homes, shorn of their basic ritual association. Centres of Clay Crafts in India There are a wide variety of clay crafts in India. For instance the Bengali Surai or the common jug, the Kagzi or paper pottery of Alwar, the painted pottery of Bikaner, the colourful Khurja pottery of Uttar Pradesh, the variety of clay ware in Himachal Pradeshlike gidya, patri and narale, the beautiful pottery of Saurashtra, the earthen ware of Srinagar. ![]() 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. 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. |