In different states, Pottery is made using clay, either by
hand or on the wheel. As Rajasthan is famous for its gilt pottery
and Madras for its glazed pottery, but since 19th century, Jaipur
has been a successful center for the making of blue pottery. Some
pottery items are found in Ram Bagh Palace in Jaipur.
Jaipur blue pottery does not involve the usage of clay, it is made
using mixture of fuller's earth, quartz, borax and gum, then it is
painted with metallic oxides which takes the bright colours by
firing. First, the basic colour are blue and green but after using
other colours, it now become shaded. Where the dark blue color comes
from cobalt oxide, chromium oxide then it gives green color. Cadmium
oxide becomes bright yellow and iron oxide becomes a red-brown
color. The typical turquoise blue of the pottery is derived by
mixing of crude copper oxide made from old copper scraps. It is this
blue color that gives it its name, the blue pottery. After painting,
the piece is dipped into a glaze of glass, borax, and lead oxide and
melted in the kiln for a day or two. Firing melts the glass, but the
quartz remains. Heating is done on very low temperatures.
The outer shape of pottery is decorated with floral motifs, animals
and other traditional designs. Flower pots, bowls, water pots and
many other things are now produced in blue pottery. At present,
mostly, Tea sets, tiles, lamp stands, doorknobs and plates are in
demanded products. Large quantities of bathroom accessories, ash
trays and small boxes are exported from here. Blue pottery has
become now more part of interior decoration and use very less. Vases
and pots are also produced in various shapes to fulfill the demand.
Now Jaipur has become a famous city for making the blue pottery.
Delhi, Khurja and Jaipur are three major regions in India popular
for their Blue Pottery. They does not involve the usage of clay.
First, the basic forms are created and then they are painted on the
surface.
Then it is covered with finely ground glass and fired. Jaipur and
Delhi follow this method whereas Khurja and Rampur prepare the base
from red clay and then fire it.
Pottery items are made using clay, either by hand or on the wheel,
and then fired in a kiln. Saurashtra is famous for its painted
pottery, Jaipur and Delhi for their blue pottery, Rajasthan for its
gilt pottery and Madras for its glazed pottery.
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