Collection: Khavda, Kutch

Khavda, Kutch Painted Pottery

Art is as ancient as civilization itself. Even before men and women knew how to read, write or even speak in certain languages, they were practicing wonderful art and craft forms. These forms were an organic part of their life and would eventually be passed onto future generations through the rich treasure trove of oral culture.

Khavda is a small village near the White Rann of Kutch in the Indian state of Gujarat. The artisans of this tiny village practice a kind of pottery that is perhaps one of the oldest surviving art forms in the world. The origins of Khavda, Kutch Painted Pottery go as far as thousands of years back to the Indus Valley Civilization that flourished in the Kutch region, once upon a time.

The craftspersons of Khavda village have been creating earthen pots with the same forms, process and designs that were seen in the objects found in Indus Valley excavations. The distinguishing feature of Khavda pottery is the beautiful painting done on the surface of the pots using natural pigment. The intricate motifs and patterns are drawn from the local stories and folklore of the region.

The potters of Khavda follow a rather long, tedious and precise process in making these painted pots. They are extremely particular about getting mud from a particular lake near the village. The mud then goes through multiple processes till it becomes soft enough to be put through the potter’s wheel.

Once the pots have been dried, they are buffed with a sandpaper so that the finishing is smooth. Then, the pots are dipped in geru from which they get that characteristic reddish brown colour.

The furnace used for firing the pots is specially designed using locally sourced material like cow dung and dry wood.

The colours used for painting Khavda pottery are all organically prepared. On the surface of these pots, one can mostly see a geometrical design using black and white dots. The black colour of the design is prepared by grinding black stone. The white colour is sourced from a particular kind of soil found in the region. Red and yellow clay based paints are also used at times.

The look of this traditional craft form of India is totally distinct from other pottery forms. Khavda, Kutch Painted Pottery gives a very rustic vibe but at the same time, there is a great deal of experimentation and innovation in the design element. It’s only in this kind of pottery that you can buy a surahi that’s shaped like a donut!

At Prosperity, we offer you a collection of Khavda painted pottery that is decorative and useful at the same time. You can use the beautifully designed surahis as wall décor for your home space. The Khavda painted glasses, cups and bowls will take your sustainability quotient a notch up as you introduce these sustainable craft products of India to your living spaces and lifestyle.