The Art of Pottery
32.
Rajasthan Rajasthan pottery has certain distinct characteristics. The mouths of water pots are small, probably to prevent spilling when water is being carried, a natural precaution in a place where water is so precious. Alwar is noted for its paper-thin pottery, known as kagzi (paper) pottery. Molela in Rajasthan is a village, which specializes in producing reliefs of gods and goddesses, mainly Ganesh, the elephant god. These reliefs are painted in vibrant reds, yellows and pinks and the figure is fired. Jaipur pottery , made out of Egyptian paste, is thrown on the wheel and fired in wood-kilns, usually at very low temperatures. This naturally makes it fragile though few can resist the charm of the delicate white and blue floral motif, which is painted onto the body after firing. The range of items is primarily decorative such as ashtrays, vases, coasters, small bowls and boxes for trinkets. In the Pokhran pottery, pieces in different shapes are made for varied uses. The important thing here is that the shape is dictated by the function. The best known is the water bottle used during long journeys.
