G is for Golden Bridge Pottery

This time the golden gate bridge is not that of SFO but home of pottery in Pondicherry, India. This is second post I am doing about pottery in this region. This was started by Deborah Smith and Ray Meeker founded this pottery school in 1971 at Sir Aurbindo Ashram. Since then they have stayed there and teach pottery making techniques. For more information on their school please contact them here

 

I am guessing she is Deborah.

Pottery as Passion

My search for pottery school in India is endless. I want to track down all the pottery schools in India and make a repository of those. I know making a calendar of those activities is difficult, but a guide by the city would be the ultimate product. Shalan Dere is the owner of pottery studio in Mahim, Mumbai. Pottery started as a past time for this bajaj MBA graduate and has grown into full blown pottery. She has some amazing collection which you can see at her website here

Some of her work

The arttist her self

She takes weekend pottery workshops. Anyone interested please get in touch with her with the contact details mentioned on the website.

A is for Andretta Pottery (HP)

I am so glad I am discovering all the movements in Indian pottery. One such took place in picturesque place of Andretta, nestled in the Kangra valley of Himachal Pradesh. Studio pottery may be very well known today, but 50yrs ago in India, it was unheard of. To make studio art popular, credit goes to Gurcharan Singh. Andretta sounds so Italian. To know all history of the place please read here. His son runs the pottery school now. I will post photos as soon as I find some. 

M is for Manipur - Longpi Pottery

Manipur is known for Longpi pottery or Longpi Ham as it is generally known. It also called royal pottery since it was used by royal family to cook special meals like during weddings or festivals. It is not made like a traditional pottery thrown on wheel. Essentially its not an earthen pottery but stone pottery. Its from a rock called "Serpentinite". This rock is powdered and mixed with other materials to make clay body. The shapes are made by hand and fired at 900 degree centigrade. It is then sanded and made smooth with another stone. It is further polished with leaves called Chiron Na and thats what gives it luster and another layer of smoothness. It is later embellished with woven with bamboo. Sharing some of the photos. 

It looks like wood, i love the imperfections and love the simplicity

aren't the handles gorgeous

pen/pencil holders

tea-pot with bamboo handle

fruit bowl woven around with bamboo

beer and bamboo

more cups, how  I long I was somewhere else ~~sigh~~

J is Jaipur Blue Pottery

I am starting a series about pottery in India, called A to Z of pottery representing the states of India.
I am starting with Blue pottery. I will post about the making of blue pottery.
Blue Pottery is Turko-Persian in origin, but today is widely known as one of the distinctive crafts of Jaipur. The blue pottery art prospered due to royal patronage in 17th century and was thriving well into 19th century.

Blue Pottery took an interesting route in finding its home in Jaipur. Ram Singh II attended a kite flying session and watched as his kite masters were engaged in battle with two brothers from Achnera (near Agra). When the ruler saw that the brothers managed to bring down the royal kites almost every time, he was intrigued. He asked the brothers their secret. They told him that they were potters by profession and had coated their strings with the same blue green glass that they used for their pots. Sawai Ram Singh II was impressed so he invited the brothers to stay in Jaipur and teach this unique form of glazed pottery at his new art school.

Blue pottery is now seeing revival after being on the verge of extinction. Below are some photos of the amazing colors.

a potter coloring the pots before they are glazed in the kiln

vases and coffee mugs. I love the intricate design of blue and white

this is where I started my search, a unique kitchen backsplash,

thats when I discovered the blue tiles

traditionally made in blue color, due to abundance of indigo..

now you notice other bright colors

These cost you a fortune. You can get some pieces in 'World Market'