In 1861 Alexander Cunningham a British army engineer and archaeologist was appointed as an archaeological surveyor of the subcontinent. In 1863, he visited Multan and found glazed tiles from Qillah Kohna Qasim Bagh. He claimed these glazed tiles were made in 900 AD. This wonderful discovery was the indication that the tiles were used in a mosque built during the Mohammed Bin Qasim era when he arrived in Multan.
Kashigari is pottery making and designing style with blue paint on white surface in Multan city of Pakistan. Blue pottery actually depicts the art in which blue ceramic designs are painted on the mud pots of various design by the skilled painters. The skill and designs have been passed on by generation and famous among Pakistani people and known Internationally. The skill of creating blue pottery is called Multani Kashi or Multani pottery work which was introduced by the local craftsmen of Multan region.
This craft is influenced by the Persian, Central Asian and Mongolian art and is said to originated from the city of Kashgar, in western China. Thus the name Kashigari. Royal patronage, lucrative business and attraction of living monuments led many artisans and craftsmen to cement the name of Multan for its indigenous and marvelous designs of blue pottery work that reciprocates the Multan’s Art work. Blue pottery of Multan is at display in president’s house, prime ministers secretariat, culture missions of Pakistan in different countries and British Museum London.
Types of Blue Pottery
These pots were 100% hand crafted and still are, with slight modernization of pot baking technique. There are two types of Multan Blue Pottery, terracotta and ceramics.
The clay used in pot making was historically present in the Indus River and Multan river. Red clay known as terracotta of Multan is very popular . Now due to pollution and silting the clay isnt good enough and few people continue to use it. many artisans have switched to white clay pottery known as ceramic. White clay is sourced from other regions of Pakistan.
HOW BLUE POTTERY CERAMICS ARE MADE
The making process of blue pottery product is very tedious and time consuming. It involves various stages. The whole process can be divided into following main steps;
- Making of the Dough
- Making of the Molds
- Casting of the Products
- Scrubbing
- Finishing
- Attaching the Base
- Smoothening
- Designing
- Color Making
- Painting.
- Glazing
- Firing
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