Shopper's Paradise: Pottery & Stone Craft

POTTERY
Eye-catching articles of functional and decorative value are fashioned by the skillful potters of India.

The crftspersons of Khurja in Uttar Pradesh have evolved a style of their own by raising the pattern with the use of thick slips into a light relief. Glazes in warm shades of autumnal colours like orange, brown, and light red have also been developed by them. Floral designs in sky-blue are worked against a white background. A type of pitcher like a pilgrim's bottle, decorated in relief by a thick slip is a speciality of Khurja.

Rampur 'surahis' (water pots) are noted for their uniform green-blue glazes with plain surfaces, the base being prepared from red clay. Excellent water containers are made in Meerut and Hapur which which stand out with their striking designs of flowing lines and floral patterns, often capped by wired shaped spouts.

A very special kind of earthenware peculiar to Nizamabad in Azamgarh district is distinguished by its dark lustrous body. This sheen is obtained by dipping it into a solution of clay and vegetable matter, deried, then rubbed with a vegetable oil, and fired. Scintillating silver ornamentation is done by incising the pattern on the surface after baking and rubbing in mercury and tin.

Alwar, Jaipur and Bikaner of Rajasthan are famed for these products. Kangra in Himachal is rich in clay wares all through the valley while Khanapur in Belgaum district of Karnataka is noted for its large sized containers and jars. Kutch and Saurashtra in Gujrat are known for their beautiful earthen ware.

TERRACOTTA
Literally meaning baked earth, Indian baked ware of the southern region like large size containers, jars, stools, dresses, tiles etc. have a traditional stamp on them.

POTTERY (CERAMICS)
Beautiful pottery and other ware made of ceramics, is also one or India's famous buys of the states of Rajasthan. It is produced in intriguing white-glazed colour with hand-painted blue-flower designs.
IDEAL PLACE TO SHOP
Uttar Pradesh, Gujrat, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Harayana, Tamil Nadu.

STONE CRAFT & MARBLE INLAY WORK
It's amazing how odd, blocks of stone are cut, shaped, inlaid and polished into beautiful objects of everyday use by the skillful craftspersons of India.

Hamirpur district in Uttar Pradesh has nurturned a sizeable stone carving industry with its rich desposits of beautiful soft stone. The stone is many coloured with the predominance of a lovely red shade. Marble is also used, especially for making statues. In Varanasi the work is done by a community called raidas. The range of items include tableware, plates, glasses, bowls, food containers, candle stands etc.

Agra is world famous for its superb inlay work in marble, drawing inspiration from the Taj Mahal. The designs are foliage of floral intertwined with geometrical patterns. Models in marble of the Taj, vases, boxes, lamps, plates, bowls and pitchers in delicately moulded shapes & fine carvings are some of the popular items produced here. intricate friezes and treillis or jail work done in an eye-catching range of patterns is also a speciality of this place.

Vrindavan near Mathura has marble as well as alabaster products. Some objects are embossed with semi-precious stones or synthetic gems.

A dark brown stone with yellow spots and lines called 'sange-ranthek' is found in Jhansi and its neighbourhood from which lampshades, income stick stands, small medicine grinders are made.

Midnapur in West Bengal is an important traditional region for stonewar and the main centre is Simulpur. Bihar's very ancient tradition in stone carving is proved by the magnificent sculpture of the Mauryan period. Tamil Nadu has a great tradition in stone carving of icons of classical exellence and Rajasthan may be called the land of marble with its stones in various colours and textures.
IDEAL PLACE TO SHOP
Rajasthan, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.