Khurja pottery refers to the crafting of products of ceramics in the city of Khurja, in India. Located right outside of Delhi, in the state of Uttar Pradesh, Khurja is nicknamed the city of ceramics since the vast majority of products of ceramics in the country are provided by Khurja.
Pottery is a traditional art form dating back to the Mughal Empire era, during which wounded soldiers improvised themselves as potters. They laid the basics of clay pottery in India during the following centuries. Since then, fabrication techniques used by craftsmen have barely evolved, and the results have remained very pleaing.
First off, clay powder, sand, water and Multani mitti powder are mixed into a large bow and laid out for approximately 15 hours. The mixture is then formed into thin discs that are put through a pug mill in order to produce liquid clay. After that, the clay is placed in various plaster molds to form vases, pots, jars, plates, trays, mugs, and more. The pieces are sanded, painted, glazed and baked for many hours each.
Many Khurja pottery pieces are inspired from Mughal traditional art, which we can easily recognize by its visible ancient look and its intensive use of the color blue. Some pieces can also be decorated with floral and geometric patterns and be of different vibrant colors, such as green, yellow and red. These various combinations of styles in one art form create unique and extraordinary pieces. Not only do they have a considerable lifespan, pieces of Khurja pottery represent a super creative and sophisticated gift idea for a loved one. These pieces will surely impress anyone who catches a glimpse of your home decor!