Khurja's famous pottery is a beautiful blend of art and craft -- combining the ancient craft that emerges from the potter's wheel with an artist's creativity in painting the surface with a mélange of motifs and hues.
Khurja pottery is traditionally made from a mixture of local clay, ground feldspar and quartz stone brought from Gujarat.
Mix of metal and chemicals
The wet mixture is placed on a mould or the potter's wheel and the desired shape is produced after which it is sun-dried. It is then hand-painted using a mix of metal and oxidised chemicals before dipping the dried piece in brilliant glazes. The pieces are then put in a kiln and baked up to 1200 -1250 centigrade.
The pots remain in the kiln for four to five days.
From matkas and simple pots and pans, today Khurja pottery has morphed into brilliant lifestyle statements such as dinner and luncheon sets, contemporary platters, tea sets, coffee and beer mugs, urns and vases.
The table work is contemporary in design, yet carries a whisper of tradition with an occasional touch of Arabesque and Islamic motifs, and leafy patterns inspired by Japanese haiku.
The Central Cottage Industries Emporium's exhibition titled ‘Earthy Touch and Ethnic Wraps' showcases the best of Khurja dinner and table ware, decorative pots, planters and urns. In a burst of orange, mint green, black, ultramarine blue and yellow, each piece has a contemporary look. The shapes too are avant-garde.
The planters, vases and urns come in artistic shapes. The entire range on display is the handiwork of National Award winning artisans.
A perfect setting for the stunning Khurja tableware and vases is provided by the specially created collection of table linen.
Vibrant hand block prints, appliqué work and cut work on organza and delicate Kantha embroidered table linen are representative of the best from Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.
Earthy Touch and Ethnic Wraps is on view at The Temple Towers, 672, Anna Salai, Nandanam, till March 26.
