Handmade in India

1 Black and front of an alam,a shaped copper
standard that is taken out in processions by the
Shia Muslims during Muharram.Motifs of the
hands,horse and crescent moon recall the sacrifice
made by Hazrat Abbas Alamdaar,the grandson of
Prohet Mohammed at the historic battle of Karbal
in central Iraq.
2 Containers for paan ingredients.
3 Tamba paandaans,engraved punched and
repoussed form an essential part of Muslim dowry.
4 Repoussed copper spittoon for paan addicts
5 Water urn used by Muslims
SHEET METAL WORK
Production Clusters
Lucknow district:
Lucknow:
Ahiya Ganj
Products
Paandaans
Kishti paraat-pans
Deg-cooling pot
Sini-metal plate
Patili-Small deg
Tonti lota-water pot
Alam-standards
Tools
Kalam-chisels
Prakaar-divider
Nihai-iron slab
Sisa-lead
Khakha-paper
stencils,dies
THE SHEET METAL WORK of Lucknow combines ubhar naqqashi
or repousse with jaal ka kaam or openwork.Most of the productsalams,paandaans,spittoons,
and ewers,are made for a Muslim
clientel.They are all lavishly ornamented.The design is transferred
from a paper stencil.For repousse,the sheet is laid over a lac bed and
bossed with chisels and punches.For a quicker job,iron dies are used.A
stick of lead is rubbed on the sheet for bossing.The most elaborate of
the products are the massive dowry paandaans.They are about a metre
in width and the body is lavishly bossed,punched and engraved.A
floral and crescent moon design is seen on most.Every Muslim bride
brings with her a beautiful paandaan,the size of the container being a
symbol of hospitality,becomes important.Smaller,lightly engraved
paandaans are found in every home.The paandaan is the woman`s
domain,while the paan ka galla or the paan stall is run by
men.Lucknow is famous for its gilori paan with a special leaf and
ingredients.During Muharram,copper alams or standards are taken out
in procession.They are carefully bossed with images and symbols
related to the assassination of the Prophet Mohammed`s family. Degs,
copper pots
used for cooking are formed over swages in three parts-neck and two
hemispheres for the body.The insiders of degs are limed.All the
craftsmen-metal workers,engravers and limers - work in a street in
Ahiya Ganj.
TERRACOTTA AND POTTERY
Production Clusters
Lucknow district:
Lucknow
Chinhat
Allahabad district:
Allahabad
Gorakhpur district:
Gorakhpur
Nizamabad
Products
POTTERS ARE IN important community of artisans in
the villages of Uttar Pradesh catering to everyday needs
of villagers-throwing water pots in summer,kulhars the
year round,diyas or lamps for Diwali and sculpting clay
deities and rough votive forms.Potters who live near
towns and cities make decorative ware.The potters get
their clay from nearby fields and village ponds.The men
do the throwing and women help with all clay work
except throwing.which is a taboo for
1 Malwa, a container for ubtan,gram flour and
turmeric,and oil used during body massages.These are
wheel-thrown objects,joined with clay slip and fired,
Nizamabad.
them.The Hindu potters are called kumbhars or kumhars and belong to a
community called Prajapati.The muslim potters are called kasgars.Though experts
at all throwing techniques they differ only in some of the products they make.An
important difference however is in the finish.Hindus do not reuse a clay
vessel,hence the Hindu potter does not labour over finish and ornamentation.In
Muslim households,terracotta utensils are used till they give way and so the potter
makes finer wares.
2 A terracotta handi,cooking vessel.In
dhabas,roadside eateries,food is often
cooked and served in a handi. Chinhat.
3 Roti daan,bread dishes sold
outside a mosque in Lucknow.
4 Kheer,a sweet dish made from
milk packaged in terracotta and
sold by a vendor in Lucknow.
Kulhar-tea glasses
Malwa-Joined bowl
and pot
Tutuhi-cup with
spout
Nadia, Nadwa - curd
bowl
Hauda-troughs
Piyalia-shallow bowl
Parva-container
Larva-for Karva
Chauth
Chilum-pipes
Tools
Chak-wheel
Lesur-Slicer
Moulds