Somewhere in the bowels of Fraser Town is a non-descript place called Pottery Town. It’s not really a town, just a street that houses about 30 potter families. And have been for quite some time now. Apparently, Pottery Town was born when the Government gave 60 potters a designated area on a 30-year lease. Over the years, the potter’s days of glory has declined and many of the new generation don’t want to take it up.
Getting ready for the festival of lights
This is what I found from a website: “Almost 150 years ago, potters hailing from Dharmapuri in Tamil Nadu migrated to Bangalore to explore new markets. In 1928, the British resettled them in the present Pottery Town near Frazer Town in the Cantonment area. Since then, this colony has been the single largest producer of pots in the City. With the decline in the use of pots for utilitarian purposes, pottery has been reduced to a decorative symbol.â€
The mud also comes from very far away areas like Kanakapura, Gubbi, Hoskote, etc, so the folks need to pay quite a hefty sum for it. Another problem is the lack of space. Everything from mixing the clay and making the products to baking and drying them in their tiny little work sheds. And they also need to use the same for displaying their wares.
A potter @ work making diyas
So how long the traditional pottery industry will survive is anyone’s guess.
Meanwhile, a few of us gathered there on Saturday morning and roamed around the area taking in the sights and sounds. It was rather interesting as it’s a very small place but we soon discovered multiple things happen in that limited area : starting from pots and items being painted, shaped, cleaned, dried and sold!
Different clay items perched on the wall
I was tempted to buy a large beautiful multiple diya for Diwali but since we’d parked very far away, I had to resist the temptation. I would however like to go back there and buy a few things. If you’re looking for lamps for the season, this is a good place to head and to buy in bulk.
wow nice pics with lovely frame work in all three and the information about the traditional potter’s. you homework before publishing new post in your blog. late post but as usual unique in your way of keeping blog. interesting one. :)
Posted by kannan raman | October 17, 2006, 8:39 pmwhew … a post, atlast. Few of us, were biting our nails, wondering what happened?
Posted by Venky Krishnamoorthy | October 18, 2006, 2:50 amHi Anita, I enjoyed reading this post (and the others). The photographs are outstanding. Very clear and detailed.
Alan
Posted by Alan | October 18, 2006, 5:59 amhey lovely. It must be lovely to play with all that mud. Did you try? do you think they will let us do that?
Posted by Usha | October 18, 2006, 10:51 amNice pics..as usual…did you try ur hand at making a pot?? or something??
just read the detailed Coorg trip post..awesome girl awesome..:)
Posted by Mehak | October 18, 2006, 3:43 pm@ kannan: thanks!
@ venky: hehe. that’s nice :) well, i am very much alive and kicking! was occupied with life and other assorted creatures but will not go away in a hurry :)
@ alan: thank you. glad you enjoyed it!
@ usha: absolutely. you can see me get my hands dirty here!
@ mehak: i had a go! check my link for usha! and thanks :)
Posted by Anita | October 19, 2006, 12:00 amNice post Anita… loved the pics… would like to pen down some words from american poet Henry Wadsworth:
“Turn, turn, my wheel! Turn round and round
Without a pause, without a sound:
So spins the flying world away!
This clay, well mixed with marl and sand,
Follows the motion of my hand;
For some must follow, and some command,
Though all are made of clay!!”
Posted by Divs | October 19, 2006, 12:47 amnice article on the traditional art of pottery , perhaps worlds oldest art after rock paintings.
Posted by priyankar | October 19, 2006, 10:10 amhaanji dheek le pic.…master at work !!!
Posted by Mehak | October 19, 2006, 3:10 pmNice post and lovely pics. It’s just sad that modernization is driving such quaint places out of business. Hopefully the city planners can find a way to preserve the place and the people…make it funky or something.
Posted by blogpastor | October 26, 2006, 9:21 amDidnt realize there was such a town, should definetly check it out.. thanks
–vp
Posted by Vp | October 31, 2006, 3:56 pmGreat pictures. Pottery is truly an art.
Kris
Posted by pottery | November 9, 2007, 9:48 pm