The invention of the wheel  was one of the most important milestones in human civilisations and with that evolved the art of pottery or clay ware. The wheel is thought to have been invented in Mesopotamia in around 3500 BC and it was not used for transport but for pottery! It has proved to be a valuable archaeological source and is still a very prevalent industry across the world. The art of pottery making has evolved much in the Indian subcontinent, from the Painted Red Ware and the Painted Grey Ware of the Vedic Ages to the modern day ceramic articles.

The artisans making these clay wares are called potters. They use their skill and dexterity to manifest cups, saucers, vessels, vases, bowls, pots and pans of all shapes, sizes and designs from something as simple and uninteresting as a lump of clay. The implements of a potter are the simplest possible – a wheel and a stick, with which he turns the wheel. Riverine clay, found along the lower course of a river is the most suitable for clay wares as their silt content is high, densely packed with high water retaining capacity. They can be kept moist for longer time that allows the artisan ample time to mould the clay yet not run the chance of deforming the structural integrity. The potter throws the clay on the wheel, turns it around, moulds it to the desired shape and size, depending on the  utility of the article, using nimble fingers and once satisfied its separated from the wheel by subtly cutting off at the base with the help of a fine thread. Further modifications or attachments are then made to the still wet clay ware. Once the required form is achieved the ware is sundried and put into a kiln, either electric or manual for better drying and strengthening. It absorbs all the moisture from in between the clay particles and makes it rock hard. Thus “terracotta” pottery, the famous bare clay items of Bengal are made. In modern times, clay ware is also glazed to seal the pores and give it a lustrous appearance. It also allows an artist to experiment with colours and appearance of the article. Pottery can be glazed in the most simple manner by dipping, spraying, dripping or creating patterns, scenes or even paintings using the body of the clay ware as a canvas. It’s all up to the whims and imagination of the artisan!

Pottery is a major industry in several parts of the Indian Subcontinent, like Bengal, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Multan and Punjab Provinces of Pakistan, Bangladesh and even Sri Lanka. It’s mostly practised in the rural parts and each region is marked by their unique style and variation in material. In recent times, pottery workshops have become popular in cities as more and more people are taking it up as a hobby or exploring their roots through this ancient craft. The use of earthenware has also seen subsequent rise with people getting more eco-conscious by the day and realising its health benefits.