From the archive record
Potters yard near Panna National Park in Madhya Pradesh. Like all other handicrafts and crafts, the tradition of pottery making in India is very old. Pottery is the most sensual of all arts. In India, we have had a great tradition of pottery making. In fact, being an agricultural country, pots for storage of water and grains were in demand. The real beginning of Indian pottery began with the Indus Valley Civilization and the art of shaping and baking clay articles as pottery, earthenware and porcelain has continued through the ages. While pottery and earthenware are definitely utilitarian and often decorative, porcelain and studio pottery belong to the sphere of art. There is proof of pottery making, both handmade and wheel-made, from all over India. In the Harappaan civilization potter's