Wondering to know What is Blue Pottery Multan? Blue pottery is a stunning and centuries-old art form known for its bright blue patterns and delicate designs. This unique craft is a part of South Punjab’s rich culture, especially in Multan, where it holds a special place in history. Sadly, this beautiful art is slowly disappearing. Reviving it can save an important tradition and help the region’s people improve their lives.
Pottery has long been a medium for artistic and spiritual expression. The discovery of “Gila-Lazwart,” also known as cobalt oxide, revolutionized the craft. Found in a small village near Tehran called Goojar, this soil was processed into a fine powder and used in glazing and painting pots. When heated, it produced a vibrant deep blue colour, transforming ordinary earthenware into mesmerizing art pieces.
While the Chinese were pioneers in porcelain and celadon, adding this vivid blue brought life and brilliance to pottery. This innovation spread across regions, with each culture adding its unique touch, shaping the blue pottery we recognize today.
The Blue Pottery of Pakistan stands out for its intricate patterns and vibrant colours. Crafted by skilled artisans, this tradition showcases Pakistan’s rich heritage and continues to captivate art lovers worldwide.
The story of the blue pottery of Multan is intertwined with the history of South Asia. Originally from China, the art made its way to the subcontinent via Iran. The art of “Kashigari” (designing) took root when skilled artisans travelled with Muhammad Bin Qasim during his conquest of Multan in 712 A.D. Among these artisans were experts in Kashi, whose work became integral to the region’s cultural identity.
Multan, a city renowned for its shrines and historical architecture, embraced this art form wholeheartedly. The artisans introduced shades of blue that mirrored the intricate tiles adorning Multan’s sacred sites. Over generations, the craft flourished and was passed down as a treasured skill.
Interestingly, the term “Kashigari” is believed to have connections to the cities of “Koshan” in Iran and “Kashgar” in China, both hubs of artistic innovation.
The art of Kashigari evolved in Multan as the artisans adapted their techniques to suit the local culture and materials. The use of cobalt blue, turquoise, and white became symbolic of the city’s identity, reflecting the same vibrant hues found in the intricate tilework of Multan’s mosques and shrines. Blue Pottery Multan is a prime example of this adaptation, with artisans infusing their designs with regional motifs, giving the craft a unique Multani character.
Generations of artisans carefully preserved and refined their skills, ensuring that the legacy of Kashigari continued to flourish in Multan. This mastery is beautifully showcased in various forms such as blue pottery tea sets, intricately designed donga sets, stunning camel skin lamps, and elegant soup sets. Each piece reflects the artisans’ dedication to keeping this centuries-old tradition alive while adapting it to modern tastes.
This artwork is distinguished by its floral motifs, geometric patterns, and occasional historical and religious symbols depictions. These intricate designs, painted onto earthenware using natural pigments, result in pieces that are not only visually stunning but also remarkably durable.
Today, blue pottery serves as more than just a relic of Multan’s glorious past. Blue Pottery History in Multan showcases the city’s unique position as a crossroads of cultures, blending Chinese, Persian, and South Asian influences into a timeless art form that celebrates the ingenuity of its artisans.
Creating blue pottery is a meticulous and time-intensive process involving multiple steps, each requiring precision and expertise. Here’s a simplified overview of how raw materials are transformed into stunning blue pottery products:
Key ingredients like quartz powder, Multani Mitti, scrap glass, Katria Gond, and Saaji are finely ground and mixed to create a soft, non-sticky dough. The dough is left to rest for 7–8 hours to ensure it’s ready for shaping.
Artisans create molds from Plaster of Paris (POP) to achieve the desired shapes and sizes of blue pottery items. Since the blue pottery dough lacks elasticity, it cannot be shaped using a potter’s wheel for larger pieces as the dough tends to crack when pulled upward. Therefore, molds are essential for casting these products.
The molds are crafted in various shapes and sizes depending on the product’s complexity. While simpler items like plates or bowls can be made using a single mold, more intricate items often require multiple molds. For example, a decorative jug may involve separate molds for the handle, neck, and body. After each mold is shaped and dried, it can be reused multiple times with proper care. Once all parts are ready, they are carefully joined using the same dough, and the product’s surface is smoothed to ensure uniformity.
In this step, the prepared dough is shaped using the molds created earlier. The required amount of dough is taken and rolled on a flat base to create a thin, even sheet, approximately 4-5 mm thick, resembling a chapatti. This flattened dough is then carefully placed into the mold to take on its contours.
To ensure the dough fits perfectly, the mold is gently wiggled, allowing the dough to settle into every crevice. The mold is then filled with raakh (burnt wood ash) to support the dough and help it retain its shape. Any excess dough around the edges of the mold is trimmed with a sharp knife to maintain a neat outline.
For more complex items, such as a candleholder, the process might involve multiple molds for different sections like the base, stem, and holder. After shaping, the mold is turned upside down to release the cast piece, which is left to dry with the raakh inside for 1-2 days. This careful casting process ensures the products maintain their intricate shapes and structural integrity.
After the product has dried in its mold, it is carefully removed, and the raakh (burnt wood ash) is emptied from inside. Any remaining raakh clinging to the surface is brushed off with a small broom, ensuring the product is clean for the next steps.
Since the molding process can result in uneven surfaces and varying thicknesses, the product undergoes a detailed smoothing process. A light sprinkle of water softens the surface, making it easier to work with. Artisans then use specialized tools, such as a small iron knife (patti) and sandpaper (regmaal), to shave off any excess material, ensuring the walls are of uniform thickness. This meticulous step not only refines the shape but also prepares the product for further detailing. Once smoothed, the product is left to dry for a few more hours before moving to the next stage.
For certain items like vases, cups, or decorative containers, a stable base is essential for balance and functionality. The base is created by turning the product upside down on a potter’s wheel. A small amount of dough, softened with water to make it adhesive, is prepared and carefully applied to the bottom of the product.
The wheel’s rotation helps shape the base evenly, ensuring it aligns perfectly with the item. The attachment process requires precision, as an improperly aligned base could destabilize the final product. After the base is securely attached, the item is set aside to dry for an additional 1-2 days, allowing the base to bond firmly with the main body. This drying step ensures the product remains sturdy during the subsequent finishing processes.
To achieve a flawless surface, the product undergoes a detailed coating process. First, a slurry is prepared by mixing quartz powder, powdered glass, and edible flour with water to create a smooth, adhesive mixture. This slurry is applied evenly to the product, filling any visible holes, cracks, or imperfections.
Once the first coat is applied, the item is left to dry completely. After drying, artisans use fine sandpaper to smoothen the surface, preparing it for the next layer. This process is repeated multiple times, with each layer ensuring the surface becomes smoother and more uniform. The careful application and sanding result in a polished foundation ready for intricate designs and painting.
With a smooth surface ready, the product moves to the design phase, where artisans bring their creativity to life. Using brushes and sometimes the potter’s wheel for symmetry, intricate patterns are carefully drawn. The wheel is particularly useful for creating circular outlines, while freehand techniques add more detailed elements.
Artisans typically create floral motifs, geometric designs, and symbolic patterns, reflecting the traditional and cultural essence of blue pottery. Every piece is unique, with patterns varying based on the artisan’s imagination and expertise. This step highlights the individuality and artistic craftsmanship of each item.
The vibrant colors of blue pottery are prepared using natural oxides such as cobalt (for blue) and copper (for green), along with other metallic compounds for shades like yellow and brown. These oxides are first ground into a fine powder and then mixed with edible gum, which acts as a binding agent.
The resulting mixture is carefully ground again to ensure a smooth texture and consistency. The preparation of these colors is a crucial step, as they define the final appearance and vibrancy of the designs.
Once the patterns are outlined, artisans begin filling them with colors using fine-tipped brushes. This meticulous process requires steady hands and great attention to detail. The floral, geometric, or symbolic motifs come to life as each section is painted in vibrant hues.
The painted product is then left to dry completely, ensuring that the colors are set properly before moving on to the glazing stage. This step showcases the artisan’s precision and skill, with every stroke contributing to the overall beauty of the piece.
The painted items are coated with a special glaze to enhance their appearance and durability. A glaze mixture is created by melting powdered glass, borax, zinc oxide, potassium nitrate, and boric acid together at high temperatures. Once cooled, the solidified mixture is ground into a fine powder and mixed with water and flour to create a liquid slurry.
Each product is dipped into this glaze solution, ensuring an even coat that will provide a glossy finish and protect the painted designs. The glazed items are then set aside to dry under the sun, preparing them for firing.
The glazed pottery is carefully arranged inside a kiln, with pieces stacked one on top of the other and separated by thin slabs and pipes to prevent sticking. The kiln is heated gradually, reaching temperatures of 800–850°C over 4–5 hours.
This high-temperature firing vitrifies the glaze, bonding it to the surface and intensifying the colors of the designs. After firing, the kiln is left to cool slowly over 2–3 days to avoid sudden temperature changes, which can cause cracks or damage to the pottery.
Once the kiln is opened, each piece is inspected for quality and durability. Items with imperfections or defects are separated, while the flawless pieces are cleaned to remove any residual dust or glaze.
The final products are carefully polished and packed, ready to sell or display. These finishing touches ensure that each item reflects the heritage, craftsmanship, and timeless beauty of blue pottery.
Conclusions
The evolution of blue pottery is a journey of artistic innovation, cultural exchange, and timeless beauty. The discovery of “Gila-Lazwart,” or cobalt oxide, in a small village near Tehran introduced the mesmerizing deep blue hue that became a hallmark of pottery worldwide. This innovation, coupled with the creativity of artisans across regions, transformed simple clay into extraordinary works of art, blending functionality with spiritual and aesthetic expression.
Today, blue pottery stands as a remarkable testament to centuries of dedication and craftsmanship. From the meticulous preparation of raw materials to the delicate processes of designing, painting, glazing, and firing, each piece tells a story of heritage and artistry. This craft, shaped by influences from Chinese, Persian, and South Asian traditions, symbolizes a fusion of cultures that enriches its legacy.