Improving Potters' lot

It was a practice in Kerala, some six to seven decades ago, to go to the weekly markets in the neighborhood and purchase every item, needed in the house, for the week. Among these items, most likely, a couple of pots made of clay also will be there. This is because the pots break very easily, and frequent replacement become imminent. Because of this demand, lots of pots of different sizes and shapes are brought to the market by the pottery workers. Thus their traditional job help them make a living. But the present condition is entirely different.

It is a particular community (Kumbharan community) who make clay pots in Kerala. Most of them are socially and economically backward . They collect clay from fields and make it soft by crushing it with legs. This is a tiresome work for them. This softened clay is used for making pots of different sizes and shapes. A potter's wheel is helping them to make shapes. A ball of clay will be placed in the middle of the wheel, which will be shaped by hand while the wheel rotates on its axis. The rotation is done manually. This calls for expertise. Once the shaping is completed the pot is taken and kept for sun drying. These dried pots will later be put into kiln in order to fire it, with the help of burning fire wood. After keeping them in the kiln for a sufficient period, it will be taken out. Now the pots are ready for sale.

Now mechanization has been introduced for crushing the soil and also for rotating the potter's wheel. But the problem faced by these workers, now a days is the lack of demand for their products. Also they face the problem of the scarcity of clay. Taking clay from the paddy fields have been banned.

The products (the clay utensils) are not in demand and also do not fetch a reasonable price in the market. When pots and other utensils made of aluminum and other metal compounds, which last for months or for years, are available in the market, no body go for this fragile pots.. Because of this the condition of these people are becoming miserable day after day. Most members of this community, who are either illiterate or not having any higher education, are not in a position to go for any other job.

Under such a condition, one alternative that can be thought of, is diversification or value addition of their products. As noted above, demand for clay kitchen wares is coming down, in general. Only very poor people use clay pots for cooking purposes, these days. But the clay products are still preferred as garden pots for growing garden plants (Even in this field, plastic pots are available in the market). The demand for them can be increased if varying types and shapes, with ornamental touch, are introduced. Flower vases, pen stands or such other fancy items can be made with ornamental look.

'Decoupage' is a technique used for modifying the surface of clay wares. Here some photograph is pasted on the pot and the background painted neatly with suitable designs. This is originally a French technology, but through experience, the same has been adapted to our conditions. Those interested can take necessary training within two to three days. Using this technique different fancy pots, wall hangings, etc. can be made attractively, which will fetch four to five times money than the original piece.

Refer:
http://www.indiastudychannel.com/resources/98965-Decoupage-Decorating-Clay-Wares.aspx