With the public turning more health-conscious, a group of traditional earthenware-makers from north Kerala is making a case for the use of clay wares in everyday urban context. Clay products, suited for the microwave or other ovens, are part of an exhibition in the city that got underway on Thursday at the M. Sukumara Pillai Hall, near Ernakulam Public Library.
Sunil Babu of Clay Arts, Nilambur, said the group was a combine of people from the traditional artisan community (Kumbaran) engaged in making clay products.
The products on exhibition and sale in the city include traditional earthen pots for fish, meat and vegetable curries, trendy dosa and appam pans and items of home decor. The landscaping and interior decoration products are mostly made to order, but there are some choices available to visitors at the exhibition.
Withstanding heat
Mr. Babu said the clay used for the products was cleaned before the wares were made so that it withstood heat. “While some earthenwaremakers use oxides to add colour to their products, Clay Arts products are free of these colours,” he claimed.
The clay products, especially cups, saucers, tumblers, water jugs and jars, are also a call to those campaigning against the use of plastic ware in kitchens and dining rooms. Wall hangings and paper weights too are part of the exhibition, which is on till Sunday.
