Black Clay

Deep in the lush hills of Meghalaya, black pottery is practiced solely by a community of gifted women, who channel ancient wisdom and the spirit of the forest into creating intricate vessels from clay. Breaking away from the usual practice of sitting at the wheel by potters, our craftswomen practice a unique method of standing over a form until it takes its desired shape. Further, shattering all artistic barriers, these craftswomen only use homegrown wheels and self-made wooden tools to shape every creation with their bare hands.

The craftswomen mold and handshape the clay prepared in advance. The shape is then fired in a bhatti, an open furnace, using local fuel. While the shape is hot, it is dipped into a milky solution of the bark of the Sohlia tree and cold water, this lends it its blackish color. Sometimes the solution shades the pieces in different tints of red, brown or black, which is completely natural.< After being treated with the solution, the shape is then dried under the sun for 2-3 days.

Made in: Meghalaya Material: Earthenware