Forum Pakistan

Artistic Ceramics
This is one of the most ancient crafts in Pakistan. It was already highly developed at the time of the *Harappan civilization. Vessels ornamented with chasing, stuck-on reliefs, and paintings have been recovered along with ceramic figurine of the mother goddess, of humans and animals, toys, and beads. Unglazed ceramic items are traditionally manufactured in Pakistan for daily use for storing water, oils. groats, and for making some dishes and for ceremonies, festivals, rituals, and weddings. Unornamented vessels are used for everyday occasions. Particularly famous are painted ceramics of *Sindh, characteristically two-colour decor of black and purple ornaments painted on before firing. Especially striking are ves els for sweets that are traditional gifts on festival days. Ornaments in the shape of fish, elephants, and plants are painted on these vessels in bright red, blue, and yellow colours. Glazed ceramics first appeared in the territory of Pakistan in the 13th century. Glazed tiles were widely used to decorate mosques, tombs, and palaces. There is an obvious influence from the art of Muslim countries (Iran, Central Asia, etc.) and the Kashigar, or master ceramist, usually belongs to a high Muslim caste.

The technique of making glazed ceramics is as follows: clay is dried in the sun, a white engobe is applied and the object is dipped in glaze then fired. The floor of glaze traditionally combines shades of blue, light blue, and turquoise with white; sometimes brown, green, and yellow colours are added.

Multan was a major centre for manufacturing ceramic tiles for architecture. Huqqas, gulab-pashes (vessels for sprinkling rose water), and surahis (vessels for water) were also made there. The decor of these vessels combines stylized floral motifs with geometrical ones.