History of Blue Pottery
The very ancient and historical city, Multan of Pakistan, is well reputed for its unique handicrafts. In these handicrafts, the art of painting and blue-pottery have their special encampment. These old art have become the identity of Multan because of the painting of blue and turquoise blue colour. In spite of sub-continent, in the central Asian states and in Arab realms, these arts are approved and also praised no doubt, the art of painting and blue-pottery have their exalted ranks as excellent arts in Islamic way of life. From A to Z, all accomplishment by the hands of human beings, thousand years old arts are manifastating still today with all of their freshness and shines in mosques, tombs and cemeteries in buildings of historical importance, in palaces and farts.
Making clay pottery is one of the oldest occupations of mankind; and the potter’s wheel is probably one of its earliest inventions.
The ancient man, when he needed to make a piece of pottery, would probably take a lump of wet clay and punch a cavity in it with his fist to turn it into a cup or a bowl. To make a bigger pot he probably pulled the wet clay into a rope and then coiled it up into shape. In the words, the potter had to move around the pot while making it.
By around 3000 BC people had begun to use the potter’s wheel. This was a little turntable made of wood. You placed the lump of kneaded and moist clay in the middle of the turntable on a little hub and then, rotating the table with one hand, you shaped the pot with the other hand. In other words, the potter sat still and did not have to move around the pot as earlier. This produced better-finished pottery but the process was still slow and tedious.
By about 2000 BC they managed to increase the speed of the potter’s wheel by attaching, with an axle, a sort of flywheel beneath the turntable. The potter, while seated at the turntable, kicked the flywheel into motion with his foot, which would then move the turntable at a higher speed. While the turntable was in motion the potter, using both his hands, would mold the pot and pull it out into the desired shape. This way the production became faster and it also produced finer pottery.
In blue painting, the clay is the basic element, which is taken specially from the rivers. After grinding and staining this clay, it is moistened in water for three days. After this it is softened by crushing with hands. Then this clay is extended to the surface of smooth ground and with iron tools cut art least into more then one inch tiles or pieces, because this clay shrinks on dehydration. On drying, the tiles or pots are cut into required sizes. Then they are carved with various tools and small holes or gaps on these tiles or pots are also filled with clay to make their surfaces smooth and plane.
Before blue-painting on the plane surface of tiles the mixture of 50% and 15% gum is coated. On drying, it appears white. The outline of the design is drawn with a pen or brush by using 75% cobalt and 25% water mixture. Border is designed in the same way. After this the design or picture is coloured by using the mixture of 75% copper and 25% water. A panel can be made by joining tiles for big designs. For this purpose, the design is first carved on paper and then printed on tiles with the help of powdered coal on the completion of the design. 85% glass powder 15% gum glaze mixture is spread on tiles still the design is printed. In the last step, the glazed tiles or pots are heated very carefully and skilfully in a special kiln which runs at a temperature of 1200oC. on melting, the graze is removed and design appears into its true colours. After mellowing in kiln, cobalt appears blue and copper appears turquoise blue in colour.
In the end of this process, very beautifully painted designs of blue and turquoise-blue colours would be appeared to show the finest delicate style of the artist.
