Manipur traditional pottery work for combination of pottery trail commenced an open air exhibition at the Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya on Thursday.
Manipuri pottery is unique in style and technique. Unlike in other parts of India, the craft is practised both by men and women in Manipur. The potters of this area don’t use a wheel and instead use a coiled method of making pots.
The pots are functional and, more often than not, black in colour, a result of the process followed and of the smoke stains while firing. Manipuri pottery is made with a mixture of clay and powdered stone. After a thorough kneading, a large slab is rolled out and shaped into a cylinder. The cylinder is placed on a circular board, which, in turn, is placed on a stool.
The potter then moves around the clay himself, shaping and forming the pot. The pot is supported from the inside with a rounded stone and beaten to the desired shape and thickness. Great dexterity is required as the internal pressure and external movement must be well coordinated to produce a perfect pot. The pot is usually finished by rubbing the surface with the reddish-brown seed of a wild creeper and finally with bees wax. Manipur pottery is made by of hear three district village traditional artist works in museum.
Tonu, Tejbati and Hemabati from Andro (village) East Imphal, Manipur, after ritual soil collected from near Nongmaiching hill and sand collected from Champra Chingdong open once in a year for their yearly required.
Mombi, loying, Tamashini, from village Nagpak Secamai of Thoubal District, Manipur soil collected from paddy field near gwarok mahedv and sand collected from river near village. Silla and lalita from the village of Kuching district, soil collected from field and vegetables ground.