After the surface smoothing, artisans hand-paint designs on the pottery, often without tracing, using various brushes for intricate patterns. Colors, primarily oxides mixed with edible gum, are ground into powder and used to fill the outlines with blue, green, yellow, and brown. Once painted, the products are dried. A special glaze made from powdered glass, Borax, zinc oxide, potassium nitrate, and boric acid is then applied and dried. The products are fired in a kiln at 800-850°C for 4-5 hours and then slowly cooled for 2-3 days. After cooling, they are checked, cleaned, and packed for the market.
Blue pottery’s journey began with Mongol artisans, who combined Chinese and Persian techniques and brought this beautiful art to India in the 14th century. Initially used to decorate mosques, tombs, and palaces, the Mughals introduced it more widely in India, and by the 17th century, it had made its way to Jaipur. In the early 19th century, King Sawai Ram Singh II sent local artisans to Delhi to learn this craft. Jaipur’s craftsmen soon became so skilled that they outshined their Delhi counterparts. Although blue pottery nearly vanished in the 1950s, it was brought back to life by artist Kripal Singh Shekhawat with the help of patrons like Kamladevi Chattopadhaya and Rajmata Gayatri Devi. Today, Jaipur blue pottery is a thriving industry, known for its traditional blue designs. Some of the finest examples can be seen in the Polo Bar and the Maharani Suite at Rambagh Palace, showcasing the enduring beauty and craftsmanship of this art.
