An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c16.s16.6

v1.c16.s16.6

All the monochrome specimens have a fine thin fabric. They are made of well-levigated clay with little tempering material, are invariably potted on a fast wheel and have a strikingly lustrous surface. The core is blackish-grey but in some cases reddish. The surface colour of about 90% in this group is jet-black, brownish-black or bluish-black. The remaining 10% are either steel-blue, pinkish, silvery, golden, brown, chocolate, violet and deep red. These may be further divided into three grades. Sherds of grade I are hard and dense having a fine body fabric with a thin section. They have a glossy surface with a metallic sheen and it is difficult to scratch their surface with knife. When struck these pieces give a sharp note. These may be called top-graded NBPW. Grade II sherds are not so hard, are thicker and less glossy and smooth and can be scratched with a knife more easily. Sherds of grade III are soft and matt in appearance and can be very easily scratched with a knife. They are also comparatively thick and when struck give a softer note than those of grade II. They may be regarded as the coarser variety of the ware.