Multani Kaashigari

After travelling to many parts of Multan, Bahawalpur and the Cholistan Desert and seeing the beautiful Multani blue and white glazed tiles I was interested in learning more about this art.  The blue and white pottery is known locally as Kaashigari.  

The word Kaashigari is thought to have come from either Kashan in Persia or Kashgar in China.  There are certainly Persian influences in the designs and Chinese influences in the predominant use of blue and white.  The art form has developed with unique Multan designs and overtime the number of colours used has increased to include bright red, yellow and orange.  

Kaashigari used to combine both red and white clay from local riverbeds however water pollution has meant a change to using just white clay from different parts of Pakistan.  Added to the clay is feldspar and quartz.  Kilns have replaced wood and dung fires.  

We visited both the TEVTA (Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority) Institute of Blue Pottery Development, a government run institute, and the Ustad Alam Institute of Blue Pottery.  The TEVTA Institute runs a 6 month course and trains around 40 students a year.  The TEVTA institute trains both men and women, women mainly working from home.  We were also given a tour of the Ustad Alam Institute of Blue Pottery.  The Institute is run by Ustad Muhammad Alam, an acclaimed Pakistani artist who has won numerous awards.   

It was fascinating to see the process from start to finish.  The mixing of the clay, clay being poured into moulds, the hand painting through to glazing and firing.   At both institutes I was able to watch the artists painting directly on to the pots with no outline or pattern to follow.   The rooms were quiet, light coming through side windows, their brushes moving quickly, no mistakes made.  

 And yes, I bought a lot of pottery to bring home with me…….

Clay

Barrels for mixing the clay

Long wooden shelves with iItems waiting to be painted

After the item comes out of the mould the excess clay is trimmed away

Kiln

Preparation of a mould

Metal mould supports

Mould being filled with clay

Glaze being mixed

Hand dipping items into the glaze