Pre-Buddhist India: A Political, Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey of Ancient India Based Mainly on the Jataka Stories c5.298

c5.298

The potters (Kumbhakāras) made various kinds of bowls, jars and vessels, small and big, used even in palaces.³ They lived, for the most part outside the city or village,⁴ but their wares were sold in the bazar.⁵ The potter used to bring cow-dung and clay.⁶ The usual way of his work was this: Lumps of clay (mattikā) were kneaded with water and then mixed with ashes and dung (gomaya), the mixture was placed on a wheel (cakka) which was constantly turned (avijjhi), and various vessels were moulded by the skilful hands. The wet vessels were then dried and baked (sukkhāpetvā: pacitvā) and made ready for consumption.⁷ Some carried their craft to a higher crafts-manship and skill, for we read of figured pottery (nānārūpāṇi samutthāpesi).⁸ The potter’s art still is a matter of pride for India.⁹