Red (Pottery) of Khurja

History
Clay has been used by human since pre-historic times. Khurja is small town in Western U.P, is hemmed by rivers Ganga & Yamuna. Historically, it is a opined when Timur had attacked Delhi in 1839, he had few skilled potters in his army, who stayed back in Delhi They started to practise the craft of Blue pottery with Persian designs and colours in these areas. A small cluster from these potter families in Delhi shifted to Khurja in the reign of Mohammad Bin Tuglaq, about 600 years ago. These potters started with red clay pottery. Later they introduced blue glazers on red clay articles with a coating of white clay.

Techniques Used
The moulded forms are made by using a mixture of red clay, china clay, feldspar, glass, and edible gum. The red surface of the moulded object is dried, coated with white clay and then smoothened. Mineral colours such as cobalt oxide for blue, copper oxide for green, iron oxide for brown, manganese oxide for pink are used for painting the surface in order of their hardness & the choice of the finished shade of the object. The designs may be floral, geometric or abstract. The object is then glazed and fired to bring out the rich forms in various shapes and sizes. In Meerut, a mould of the desired object is made in plaster of paris on a lathe. A solution of clay in water, made in a ration of 3:7 is poured into the mould. After 30-45 minutes, the mould absorbs, the water of clay solution and the clay attains the mould form. The handle is made out from a separate mould. It is attached to the vessel in a moist condition. It is dipped in a glaze solution of iron oxide, barium oxide, borex marble powder. Then it is fired at about 1150 degree Celcius.

Common Materials Used
Red clay (traditional), china clay, ball clay, plastic clay, glass, gum.

Popular Products
Hookas (pipes), surahis, vessels, flower vase, crockery, industrial ceramics

There are wide regional variations in the properties of clays used by potters and this often helps to produce wares that are unique in character to a locality..

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