Object
Why it exists
Quartz Sand Blue pottery Bells -(hand crafted thru the last 300 yrs in Jaipur Rajasthan) .
Quartz stone is grounded into fine powder, mixed with powdered glass,fuller's earth ,borax natural gum from trees and mixed with water to form dough then flatted into pancakes then pressed into POP Moulds dried smoothened ,painted with Motifs floral, snow flakes, stars or animals ,Glazed with glass powder and fired in a Kiln & cooled to get final Blue pottery bell. Process Takes in all 4-5 days
Process
How it is made
1.Dough Preparation:Artisans mix quartz stone powder, powdered glass, Multani Mitti (Fuller's Earth), borax, natural gum, and water. No actual river clay is used. The mixture rests to form a cohesive dough. 2.Molding:The dough is flattened into a pancake (called a chapatti) and pressed into plaster of Paris molds. Wood ash is packed inside to help the piece hold its shape without sticking to the mold. 3.Drying and Smoothing:The piece dries in the sun for 1 to 2 days. Once hardened, the mold is removed, the ash is brushed out, and the surface is sanded smooth to prepare for painting. 4.Painting:Motifs (traditionally floral, geometric, or animal) are sketched and hand-painted using natural oxide pigments. Cobalt oxide provides the signature deep blue, while copper oxide yields turquoise. 5.Glazing and Firing:The painted item is dipped in a clear glaze made from powdered glass, borax, and zinc oxide. It is then fired once in a kiln at low temperatures for 4 to 5 hours. As it cools over several days, the vibrant colors emerge.
Origin
GI Jaipur Pottery,GI Number 52
