Pottery

Being in India was a wonderful experience, except that I didn't have my wheel.  While living in Hyderabad, we found a wonderful woman, a potter whom we visited with some friends.  Her name is Arti (appropriate huh?)

Here is her little shop.  A lot of her pieces are joined cylinders.

Arti, in the apron and our friend Priya.

I just can't resist touching and examining everything.

Arti had all of these wonderful hand painted designs around her studio.

Arti uses a very black clay.  Once is it wedged up, it is then slapped on the wall to dry some more.

Arti, my wife Jo, and the piece we select for ourselves.

Our wonderful friends Priya, Muralli, and Shanti.

Arti's helper and her huge oil drop kiln.

Containers where the clay is stored.

In my travels to Bangalore, I found a small section of town where they make pottery.  I only got to visit it once, but if I every go back, I am paying another visit.  Hopefully, in my pottery throwing clothes!

A young boy using a mallet to break the clay down.

The potters would put 50 lbs of clay on the wheel, then throw cups off the hump.  It would literally take them them about ten seconds to make a cup.  Then they would put them on boards by the hundreds each exactly identical.

Clay mixed up then walked on until partially mixed.

Here are the boards of cups.

How many people find a wall of pots beautiful?  I do.

While in Hyderabad, I did find a potter.  I got some clay and did a few little sculptures, stamps, etc.  It wasn't enough, but it was fun.  I'll post some pictures.

Here is the potter.  He would get the wheel spinning using the staff.  I would have liked to see how he actually used it.