LIFE's video: Punjab potters in the Pakistan Life

Traditional Pottery Techniques of Pakistan Clay pottery mainly consists of a spinning wheel with soft clay placed on top, ready to be moulded into the required shape and the follow-up steps such as keeping the shaped pot in a brick oven to solidify the figurine. The clay pots with their rustic look, solid texture and historic background is perhaps, what draws most towards its charm. In addition to clay pots, terracotta figures, vases and other utensils are made from clay pottery as well. The first part of this work deals with detailed observations obtained during four field expeditions (1967-1971) in Pakistan, for pottery making of unglazed ware in 13 areas and glazed ware in 5 major centers. For each center a brief outline of the area is given, followed by an outline of the potter's craft under the following guidelines: tools and equipment, materials gathering and preparation, forming and finishing techniques, decoration (including slips and pigments), glazing, kilns and firing, and types of ware. Most of the common pottery-making techniques in Pakistan are included although fieldwork was primarily in the Northwest Frontier Province and Panjab. Pottery-related crafts such as brickmaking and tanur (bread oven) making are briefly discussed. In the second part of this work detailed relationships between pottery-making techniques, outlined in the first section, are developed under the headings of tools and equipment, materials, forming and finishing techniques, slips, pigments and colorants, glazes, and kilns and firing. Technical studies include mineralogy studies of clays and tempering materials, particle size distribution studies of nonplastic tempering materials, and electron microprobe analyses of fired glazes. The monograph provides essential data for use in comparative studies of archeological ceramics from Pakistan, as well as a detailed record of the rapidly disappearing pottery crafts of that country, including five appendixes and a glossary. Born of clay, fading into the sands of time In this part of the world, where the remains of Moenjedaro and Harappa provide the world with glimpses of centuries-old craftsmanship, the tradition of pottery is still deeply rooted. However, the market for clay items, while it does exist, is not large enough to accommodate potters, leaving traditional pottery-making to wither into a dying art. It is possible that soon, pottery-making will be nothing more than part of a curriculum restricted to art schools. Amidst the old quarters of Rawalpindi in Gawalmandi, surrounded by auto repair shops, there is a small market colloquially known as “kumhaaron ki gali”, or Potters’ Street, which specialises in items made of clay. Historically inhabited by non-Muslims, Muslim immigrants from Eastern Punjab moved to the area after the Partition, replacing the existing Hindu and Sikh population. Along Potters’ Street, a customer can find household items and crockery fashioned out of play. The items range from water tumblers, to water coolers, oil lamps, piggy banks and gardening pots, amongst many others. However, despite the existing market, and the centuries’ old tradition, several shop owners say pottery is a lost art. “Traditional pottery is long gone,” one shop owner and clay artisan said. He added that clay pots now are manufactured in factories in Lahore, Gujranwala, and other industrial sites in the country. The pots are then brought here and sold. According to many vendors, the present generation has abandoned the profession entirely, choosing instead to purchase factory-made clay items and sell them. However, there are still some items that are made locally. Amongst them is the traditional clay oven – the tandoor, or huqqa. These tandoors, which are made from a mixture of black clay and sheep hair, cost between Rs200 and Rs1,500. He said despite gas loadshedding facing many households and restaurants, no one is interested in buying these ovens. In Rawalpindi, there are still some spots where one can witness pottery in its traditional form. Hasan Ali is a craftsman who still uses traditional methods to make his clay huqqa, in a small compound in Gawalmandi. Ali explained that he learnt the art of pottery from his forefathers.