Project report for Black Pottery

The variety of household and decorative items are made including vases, plates, pots, lamps, tea-pots, bowls, vessels, incense stick holders and statues of Hindu religious figures. The Surahi, a long-necked water pot, is a popular item. Pottery industry is a major revenue generator for many rural or small-scale households. The Indian handicraft sector is a major exporter of handicrafts and other art-related products to the global markets. If you also enjoy making clay wares and you are looking for a method to transform your hobby into a revenue generator. India is one of the most important suppliers of handicrafts to the global markets. The handicraft business is expanding at a consistent pace and is spreading its wings across various nations.

The pottery are made with locally available fine textured clay. The clay moulds are prepared in different shapes and are backed in kiln. Later these clay wares are washed with powdered vegetable matter and are rubbed with mustard oil. They are decorated with floral and geometric patterned grooves using sharp twigs. They are smoke fired with rice husks in enclosed kilns which gives its unique shiny black surface. They are again rubbed with oil and baked in kiln. The grooves on clay wares are then filled with silvery powder of Zinc and Mercury, washed with water and polished again. Lead or Tin Amalgams are also used. The silver powder gives shiny hue against black background of clay. Sometimes they are coated with lacquer when they are still hot to give them shine.

Pottery being an age old handicraft in India, the roots of the India pottery industry can be traced back to the earliest times of civilization. The beginning of pottery making trails back to the Neolithic era. During the time of the Indus Valley Civilization, this effective art form improved with technology. In the present day, the pottery industry in India has been put forward as a major cottage industry as well as on the contemporary lines in both small and big pottery concerns. The pottery industry in India provides mass employment along with betterment of the living standards; both the village and city people comprise the work force of the industry. Moreover, this industry is known to play a vital role in the total GDP of India and even in the foreign revenue.

This profit-earning industry of India is without any application of modern day technical support; most of the technologies are outdated and are also inefficient at the same time. Moreover, this important industry has failed to taste success in respond to meet the present market demands. It has been estimated that over 40 lakhs rural potters still work with the help of conventional pottery wheels. Of the 15 lakhs traditionally skilled potters, about 95% are involved in the work of conventional red local pottery. In addition, the products made in the village pottery are only sold to a restricted part of the society.