Preserving The Art of Blue Pottery

Introduction

"Blue Pottery" refers to the stunningly vivid and arresting Persian blue dye used to colour the clay.

Blue pottery arrived in Jaipur from the Mughal era (Persia). It was introduced to India by the Mughals via Kashmir, and as it spread over time, Blue Pottery is today primarily associated with Jaipur, Rajasthan. The Jaipur Royals' love of blue pottery is the primary factor in developing this art form in that city. In Jaipur, under the reign of Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh, blue pottery is in vogue. The renowned palaces and museums in the city contain Blue ceramics.

The journey Blue Pottery took to settle in Jaipur was interesting. At a kite flying event once, His Highness Maharaja Sawai Ram Singh II witnessed two Achnera brothers pull down the royal kites of his kite masters. They were potters by trade, and they had coated their strings with the same blue-green glass that they used for their pots, which aroused his curiosity. After being impressed, Sawai Ram Singh II invited the brothers to stay in Jaipur and instruct this unusual style of glazed pottery at his brand-new art academy.

Process

Blue Pottery had great potential and ought to have thrived, but as time went on, master potters refused to divulge their trade secrets to their fellow craftsmen, which led to a reduction of standards and a slow demise of the trade. The younger generation has little desire to study the arts. Due to the complexity of the Blue pottery manufacturing process, there is a huge disparity between demand and production.

The craftsmen who specialize in this artwork employ Fuller's earth, also known as Multani Mitti, and other components that build a specific mixture, known as the "Egyptian paste," in contrast to clay pottery, which is simpler and uses clay to form the body. Although the process of creating Blue Pottery comprises many stages, it would be wise to break it down into four to make it easier to understand.

The creation of the pottery is the initial stage. Quartz, gum (obtained from Banyan trees), and Fuller's earth must be ground for this purpose. The powder is then measured appropriately and combined with water to make the dough, which is then kneaded.

After smoothing the edges and shaping them into discs, a la tortillas are placed in a mould and filled with ash. Then a paste made of wheat and glass is applied on top of the pottery.

The potter's wheel is used to design everything in the second step. Ground pigments are blended with gum, which is often formed of babool, as desired. The resulting color is then applied to the model.

The pottery's glazing process is the most crucial step. Glass, zinc oxide, boric acid, potassium nitrate, and borax are the ingredients of the glaze. Warming up this combination results in a molten coating that solidifies into lumps when it cools. This is made into a powder and applied to the sculpture before being burnt.

After the kiln has been prepared, the mould is placed on it. The kiln is then heated for four to five hours to 800 degrees or higher. It needs two to three days to cool down before the product is retrieved and ready for use after some last touches.

Conclusion

This intricately designed but gorgeous pottery is typically decorated with designs of plants, animals, and birds. The blue-glazed item designs were a significant component of the building structure and decorative goods in ancient times. You may find various items of this type, from vases to ashtrays. Tea sets with blue pottery artwork are typically found separate from other utensils.