Blue Pottery

Blue Pottery – Age-Old Traditional Craft-

It is recognized as an age-old traditional craft. The blue pottery comes from the cobalt blue dye color used to color the pottery. Jaipur blue pottery has strong influences of Persian style, but they have developed its designs and motifs. It is inspired by the nature and one can see designs of birds, flowers and a hint of Persian geometric design. Some of the pottery is semi-transparent and mostly decorated with Mughal patterns.

 Significance·  

• The use of blue glaze on pottery is an important technique·   
• Mongol artisans used Chinese glazing technology with Persian Decorative arts. ·      
• Make tiles to decorate mosques, tombs and palaces in Central Asia. ·       
• Blaze technology grew beyond the architectural accessory

 What makes this blue pottery stand out from traditional pottery is no use of clay. The pottery dough is prepared using quartz stone powder, powdered glass, borax, gum, Multan mitt and water. Soda bicarbonate is found in the mixture as well. The final product is carefully glazed using Chinese glazing technology. Pottery is made using Egyptian paste which is glazed and low-fired.

History –

This art of pottery is as old as mankind. In ancient civilizations, glass was found in Egypt Syria, Iran and Indus Valley. An alkaline soil was mixed with copper and heated; it gave a turquoise-blue color. This art was flourished during the Buddhist period. The designs are inspired by Turkish patterns. The royal patronage, attractive offers and attraction of living in a beautiful city led many artisans and craftsmen to come and get settled in Jaipur.

Design –

Majorly of the pottery designs are decorated with flower and animal motifs that are semi-transparent. The color palette is only restricted to blue which is derived from cobalt oxide, green which is deprived of copper oxide and white. Traditional patterns and motifs are developed by artisans. Patterns are floral, geometric designs, birds and other gods and goddesses like goddess Durga and Lord Ganesh.

Challenges –

Raw oxide used in the glaze has added to major difficulties for craftsmen. Though, the amount has reduced to harmless amounts and customers have become skeptical about the same. Craftsmen need bright sunlight for drying in different stages of craft.