POKHRAN POTTERY

A Design intervention workshop The objectives :-To maintain the traditional style of the craft, which has a strong aesthetic language that is typical of Pokhran pottery.-To enhance the products made by the potters with contemporary applications of their craft in terms of design & function. -To conduct the design interaction with the potters such that they would be able to continue with the development of further variations of the product types.-To work with the varied skill sets of different potters in order to have a widespread interaction with the many groups and create a variety of product ranges.

Pokhran Pottery techniques

The main techniques focused on for product development were :

- Throwing- Pinching- Slabbing- Cutwork- Embossing- Scraffito- Appliqué

Terracotta tables for outdoor furniture

Bird bath on stand with applied decoration

Modhas – Outdoor stools

The unusual strength of Pokhran clay makesit an ideal material for durable outdoor/ garden/ terrace furniture which also uses the traditional embossed & scraffito decoration that is a signature of the ‘Pokhran’ style.

Decorated pots cum Modhas

Modhas – Outdoor stools

Flowerpots & Planters

One of the most commonly made products in Terracotta is the Flowerpot. Here, we developed a range of flowerpots with large rims for stability, ease of handling and as an eye catching decorative border whichkeeps them within an affordable price range.

Bird bath

Planters and flowerpots with decorative edges

Wall hung Planters

Wall mounted Planters

Wall mounted & hanging planters made using a combination of throwing, slabbing & varied decorative techniques.

Hanging planters in varied shapes

Cutwork fruitbowls

Fruit bowls using the cutwork technique which, in this product, serves the function of ventilation,thereby keeping fruits fresh for a longer period of time, as the gases emitted by them during ripening are dissipated through the vents.

Fruit bowls

Fruit bowls

Closed shapes that are cut into halves after the throwing process to get two bowls from one shape. Different surfaces and shapes may be employed to generate a variety of design.

Cutwork terracotta Lamps combining bases & lampshades

Complete lamps combining the lamp base and shade in one material, thereby facilitating an ease of in house manufacture for the potters. The use of the cutwork method makes terracotta a viable material for the purpose of light dispersion.

Cutwork terracotta lamp with detachable shade

Cutwork Garuda Table lamp

Designed for holding a standard 40 – 60 watt bulb

The ‘Garuda’ is usually made by the Pokhran potters as a decorative figurine or lidded jar. This design retains the form of the Garuda but uses it in an entirely different product application.

Lampshades designed for holding a standard 40 – 60 watt bulb

Simple hanging lampshades for household bulbs.

The birds of Pokhran

There is a tremendous variety of bird figurines crafted in Pokhran. So far, they have mainly been made as toys, bels or small hanging planters, which are quite labor intensive to make. The exercise here was to raise the perceived value of these Pokhran clay birds by designing products that make them more unusual as functional objects.

Wall hung Oil lamp

Oil lamp & Incense stick stand

Oil lamps

Bird votive

Bird Planters on stands

Bird Planters

Incense stands etc.

Many of the younger potters make varieties of toy animal figures, oil lamps and other such smaller products.Working with their level of skill, the objective was to come up with a range of small gift items & household objects such as, incense stands, oil lamps, soap dishes, textured body scrubbers and small bowls.

Soap dishes

Soap dishes

Diyas & Oil lamps

Wall hung oil lamp tiles

Decoratively textured body scrubbers

Decoratively textured body scrubbers

Varied shapes & sizes of pots

Water pitcher

Creation of alternative forms for the traditional matka , for use in urban homes, while using the same principle of the cooling effect of a terracotta vessel.

Water bottles

Large decorative bottles

Vases

The Pokhran story continues…