Breakthrough or Breakdown

Independent Studies
NEELAABH, AD-VI

Brainstorming

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Towards Craft

Introduction
Pottery is the ceramic ware made by potters. The place where such wares are made is also called a "pottery" (plural "potteries")."Pottery" can also refer to the material of which the pottery ware is made. Major types of pottery include earthenware, stoneware and porcelain. Pottery is one of the oldest human technologies and art forms, and remains a major industry today. The definition used by archaeologists tends to exclude ceramic objects such as figurines which are made by similar processes, and perhaps the same people, but are not vessels, or made on a potter's wheel.

Pottery is the measure of a country's civilization. Being one of the oldest crafts, man has expressed his feelings and his aesthetics in clay. A piece of pottery has a visual message in its shape and color. It is the most sensual of all arts. It is not only to be looked at, but also to be handled carefully.

Tradition
When man came to know the beauty of a pot thrown on the wheel and its decoration, pottery took on a new meaning for him Among the various media chosen by man for expressing his joy through art, music or literature, the simplest has been soft and malleable clay. Nimble fingers mould the most beautiful form and expression. Clay is such a fascinating medium that if a lump of it is given to a child, he instinctively creates things out of it. Pottery is the measure of a country's civilization. Being one of the oldest crafts, man has expressed his feelings and his aesthetics in clay. A piece of pottery has a visual message in its shape and color. It is the most sensual of all arts. It is not only to be looked at, but also to be handled carefully. No wonder then that pottery has been called the lyric of handicrafts. Lyrical because of its irresistible and universal appeal. But, it is the association of religion with this art that has given it a deeper significance and another dimension too.

History
Pottery making was the earliest vocation of mankind and there are so many traces of this earliest vocation that are being excavated and given proper treatment. The excavations at Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro have thrown up ancient pottery such as terracotta figures of a dancing girl and other female figures, male figures, a figurine of a cart being drawn by oxen or buffalos. There are also figures of dogs with collars, rhinoceros, feline and bovine creatures, deer, birds, water buffalos, rams, elephants. These forms of antique pottery are rudimentary creations, no doubt, yet they are proof that even as early as 3300 BC, people were artistically inclined.

The real beginning of Indian pottery began with the Indus Valley Civilization. There is proof of pottery being constructed in two ways, handmade and wheelmade. There are more than a million potters in India. These potters are claimed to be wonderful masters of their trade.

Origin of Pottery
It is difficult to ascertain the discovery of the potter's wheel. Originally it was used in Egypt, Persia, and Babylonia. Explorations in the tombs of Egypt show that pottery making was very much present in the 3000 BC. These objects tell us a lot about the lives of those ancient people. Bottles, jars and jugs for carrying and storing water represent their artistic sense. Earthenware pottery is one of the oldest and widespread of the arts created of clay and made hard with heat. Generally useful objects were made, like jars for holding liquids or plates and bowls where food could be kept.

Earthenware

Classification of pottery
The term Pottery is generally used to mean all the products that the potter produces by using his art. Pottery can be largely divided into 3 categories:
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Earthenware-This is a form of pottery fired at relatively low temperatures to avoid the clay from getting vitrified or glassy. Stoneware- This was made in China as early as 1400 BC (Shang dynasty) and in Japan during the 13th century (Kamakura period) .

Porcelain- This was made in China during the T'ang dynasty (AD 618907) Stoneware is hard and translucent, sometimes even opaque. The color of the body can be red, brown, gray, white or black. Sometimes, earthenware may be used as a general term to denote all kinds of pottery.

Indian Pottery
It was during the period of Harappa civilization, craft of pottery was originated. While pottery and earthenware are distinctly utilitarian and often decorative, porcelain and studio pottery belong to the realm of art. Except for a few examples of Indian ceramics, which have been produced from a single mould, most of it is completely hand-modeled, a tradition carried over to the 20th century. There is evidence of pottery making, both handmade and wheel-thrown, from all over India. At Harappa and Mohenjodaro, pottery has been excavated showing that potter's place was quite an important one in society. The craft was well advanced. Rectangular kilns for firing the product were in use. Seals and grain and water containers were made that were put to use effectively.
Indus Valley (3300-1300 B.C)

The place of the potter in the craft tradition of India is unique. India has more than a million potters. They are exquisite masters - men and women alike. Despite the hi-tech that has invaded the Indian scenario, it is doubtful if it will ever destroy the potter's inherent creativity. Hopefully, new generations will perceive the worth of pottery.

Handmade Pottery
All pottery is handmade, so the term handmade pottery states the obvious. However, it is to be noted that there are two types of handcrafted pottery:
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Pottery made on a potter's wheel Pottery molded by hand

Throwing a pot on a potter's wheel demands a great deal of skill and dexterity. The potter has to know exactly where to apply pressure, and how much. Even the slightest slip can upset the process of creation. A master potter knows how to control the clay he shapes on the wheel. An alternative way of making handmade pottery is by molding the clay by hand. For instance, to make a clay human figure, the craftsman would make the arms and legs and head separately and then attach them to the torso. While crafting pottery by hand, clay is often made into thin rolls and then coiled. These are then smoothened with water.

Raw Material
Its primary mineral is kaolinite; clay may be generally described as 40% aluminum oxide, 46% silicon oxide, and 14% water. There are two types of clays, primary and secondary. Primary clay is found in the same place as the rock from which it is derivedit has not been transported by water or glacier and thus has not mixed with other forms of sediment. Primary clay is heavy, dense, and pure. Secondary or sedimentary clay is formed of lighter sediment that is carried farther in water and deposited. This secondary clay, a mixture of sediment, is finer and lighter than primary clay. Varying additives give the clay different characteristics.

Pottery Wheel
The pottery wheel is the instrument on which the pot is thrown. There is a fair amount of debate regarding the date the potter's wheel was invented. While one school of thought believes that 6000 BC is the correct date of origin, another group pinpoints the year as 2400 BC. Pottery wheels are of various kinds. Based on the Position they are to be used in, there are three types of potter's wheels:
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The tabletop pottery wheel Standing pottery wheel The one that is placed on the floor

Table top wheel

Standing wheel

Depending on the Manner in which these wheels for pottery are used, they are of four types:
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Kick wheels for pottery Treadle wheels Electric wheels Those that are set in motion by hand, using a long stick.
Kick wheel

The kick wheel works by kicking the flywheel in a specific rhythm. This powers the wheel head.

The treadle pottery wheel is a more recently developed pottery wheel. It is easier to operate than the kick pottery wheel because the left foot is used to rock a treadle, rather than in a kicking motion. The electric wheel uses electric power to spin, and has the advantage of not demanding any manual interference. Thus, when using this pottery wheel, the potter can cntrate completely on the work his hands are doing. However, it is to be acknowledged that for those who are very accustomed to the manual potter's wheel, the motion of the foot is hardly a hindrance to their work.
Treadle wheel

Power pottery wheels have made the process of throwing a pot simpler; however, this is perhaps also the reason they are not really favored by traditional artisans who believe that operating the wheel manually, is an art in itself. The pottery wheel is available in a number of sizes, weights, speeds, and prices. For children, special children's pottery wheels are also available.
Electric wheel

Pottery Throwing
The process of creating a pot on a potter's wheel is called pottery throwing.
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Centering the clay is the first and most important step in molding it. For if it is not positioned appropriately, the piece will not be balanced and will be very difficult to handle. The trick is to throw the clay as close to the center as possible. It is important that it sticks well. Then, both hands are used to reposition it to the center. The next step in throwing a pot is raising a column of clay, and shortening it. It is only once the clay mass is collected and made uniform in this manner, that it can be worked on. Pressure must be used to make the clay obey your hands. Thereafter, an opening is made in the clay mass. This is the third step in pottery throwing. The opening is created by using just the right amount of pressure, so that it does not become too wide or the clay does not become too thin around it. Once this is done, the sides are raised cautiously and uniformly. Usually one hand supports the wall, while the other raises it. The penultimate step in throwing a pot is shaping the top edge of the pot, suing the fingers. This must be done gently. A fine needle may be used as a pottery tool at this step. The final step in pottery throwing is separating the pot from the wheel. To do this, one must use a wire line or a thread. The line is simply held firmly at the base of the pot; the rotating wheel causes it to slice through the clay.

The process of throwing a pot is an art that takes patience and practice to perfect. Once mastered, sky is the limit.

Pottery Kiln
Once the pottery clay has been molded, it is ready to be fired. This is done in a pottery kiln. A pottery kiln is an oven whose temperature is controlled to achieve a desired effect. The final characteristics of the piece of pottery depend on the temperature at which it is fired. Once fired, the clay objects become hard. The heat in the pottery kiln causes the clay particles to become semi-solid and flow into each other, creating a single mass. Once fired and cooled, the ceramic is glazed , painted or adorned in any other manner. There are different types of kilns used for firing pottery. Some of these are: The Traditional Kiln This is no more than a trench dug in the earth, and filled with pots and fuel. Top-Hat Kiln In this pottery kiln, the pottery is placed on a hearth, and a cover is lowered over it. The pottery is then fired and allowed to cool.
Kept in sun for drying, before firing

Bottle Kiln This is a coal-fired kiln. It is surrounded by a brick cone.

Anagama Kiln This potter's kiln is an ancient kiln of Japan. It is basically a long tunnel that has a firing box at one end and a chimney of sorts at the other.

Electric Kilns These are pottery kilns that are fairly easy to use. They maybe front loading or top loading. The latter could be sectional or a single piece kiln. They come in various shapes to suit the potter's needs; also with various heights and crosssections. And with different controls. They often have a safety vent.

Industrial Pottery Kilns These mostly use natural gas. They have sophisticated temperature and rateof-cooling controls. Microwave Kilns These employ microwave energy in combination with gas or electric energy

SWOT Analysis Strength:

Easily available raw-material. Abundance of craftsperson. Low cost. Strong linkages with other key regional clusters. Good storing vessel because of breathing abilty.

Weakness:
Fragile. Transportation difficulty. Low R&D for product innovation. Use of traditional technique and technology. Lack of incentive for export.

Opportunities:
Rising domestic demand. Large export potential. Huge potential for mainstream design.

Threats:
Use of plastic and fiber as a stronger material. Changing consumer preference. Low priced import from China.

Conclusion
The potter's craft dates back to antiquity in India, as excavations of pottery in Mohenjo-Daro (2500 B.C.) shows. The artistic work in the delicate shapes indicates that they are pieces of excellent craftsmanship. The fabled richness of the Bhoomata or Mother Earth, lends the medium a high degree of adaptability. The beauty of form, colors and texture varies across the length and breadth of the country. The place of the potter in the craft tradition of India is unique. India has more than a million potters. They are exquisite masters. Despite the hi-tech that has invaded the Indian scenario, it is doubtful if it will ever destroy the potter's inherent creativity. With a hope that new generation will perceive the worth of pottery.

Design Direction

Adding unique utilitarian value to the craft, other than antiquity and tradition. Using breathing property of the ware to make something unrivaled.

Bibliography
http://www.india-crafts.com http://www.wikipedia.org/ http://www.scribd.com