Manipuri Black pottery is an ancient form of art that, at its most basic form, includes the molding of various forms of ceramics, clay, and earthenware into shapes that are desired by the artist. It is then dried and heated by fire so that it takes its lasting form. Pottery can be glazed for preservation’s sake and for aesthetic purposes, though most of the pottery made in pre-modern times was not glazed. Pottery can take a range of forms, such as bowls, jugs, cups, plates, animal shapes, or even human figurines.

The use of the word ‘handmade’ as terminology to describe the process of pottery making is debated frequently in the ceramic world. The ambiguity comes from the loose definition in the dictionary;

“Made by hand, not by machine” plus the confusion new technology brings and the connection in the different processes.

Handmade pottery online in India in the most common and traditional way, that is to say, in which the majority of the public would understand when they hear ‘handmade’. Handmade pottery is made by hand, and therefore we cannot class ram pressed or slip cast pottery as handmade. Handcrafted yes, hand-finished of course, but not handmade in the traditional sense; pottery shaped using the hands, be it on a wheel, or hand-built.

 Our pottery gives a different aesthetic and certainly requires more nuanced skill to successfully make and fire and price accordingly for that, but the pottery, in essence, is still handmade keeping with tradition than contemporary means. This pottery is a wood-fired kiln in order for it to be considered handmade.