Black Pottery of Dharavi (Mumbai), Bhadravati
History
Potters wheel was the first machine which man invented for a productive purpose. According to a legend, pottery came into existence during the churning of the ocean, when the God needed a vessel to keep the nectar. Thus Vishvakarma, the celestial artificer, had moulded a pot. This tradition goes back over a span of five millennia.
Techniques Used
The wheel is the common kind, thick with short spokes, turning on a pivot of hard wood or metal, provided with large hub acting as a revolving table. The impulsion is given by hand with a vertical stick inserted in a hole in the rim. The potter throws the kneaded clay into center of wheel, then spins the wheel around with a stick. As the whirling gathers momentum, he begins to shape the clay into the form he wants. When finished he severs the shaped bit from rest of the clay skillfully, with a string. The firing in the countryside is mostly done in the open in improvised kilns within a simple hollowed circular area, with the articles just piled up and covered by cow dung cakes, the cheapest available fuel.
Design & Styles
The vessels are jet black in colour with silvery floral pattern which gives an impression of bidri ware. Hand painted glazed tiles are another items of artistic pottery.
Common Materials Used
Clay, vegetable oil, mixture of tin, zinc and mercury, potters wheel, string for cutting.
Popular Products
Jars, pots, dishes, cooking vessels, bowls, containers, beakers, jugs, vessels.
