History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c15.s4.t2: Malwa Ware
History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c15.s4.t2
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Malwa Ware
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The Malwa ware is a well defined ceramic which is essentially buff or cream-slipped and bears painted patterns in dark brown. At least superficially it bears some resemblance with the red-painted buff ware of the Kayatha culture. The relationship between the two, however, has not yet been established. The ceramic is extremely rich in form and painted ornamentation.
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The core is somewhat coarse and the slip is considerably thick (*Fig.4*). The fossil forms comprise the typical Indian *loṭā* with a bulbous body and wide flaring mouth. But more interesting are the channel spouted-cups and pedestalled goblets; the latter have turned up at Navdatoli only. They have significant parallels in Iran and hence they have been associated with Aryans (Sankalia, 1964, pp. 315-17). The repertoire of painted ornamentation is quite rich and there are over six hundred motifs in all. They are primarily geometric such as triangles and lonzeges but there are many exquisitely naturalistic designs such as animals, birds, plants etc. One must agree with H.D. Sankalia who states that “Among all the painted pottery found in India so far, that at Navdatoli has given the larges repertory of designs (Sankalia, 1974, p. 457).”
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Fig.3 Kayatha pottery, 1-6 red painted buffware, 7-10 combed ware
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Fig.4 A Malwa ware bowl from Navdatoli (M.P.)
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Although we cannot say much about the technology of the Malwa ware, as it has not yet been subjected to scientific examination, we can have some idea of the kilns of the Malwa culture. In this connection it may be stated that the Malwa culture of Central India had spread into Maharashtra and its remains have been found in the Tapi, the Pravara-Godavari and the Bhima Valleys where it can be assigned to Circa 1600-1300 B.C. In fact at several sites, as at Inamgaon, the first settlers were the Malwa people. In Maharashtra, however, the Malwa painted pottery is of a finer fabric in a sharp contrast to the coarse fabric in its kneeler area. The vessels are treated with a wash of orange or pink and the painted designs are in black pigment.
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The designs consist of linear and geometric patterns, but naturalistic motifs such as dog, deer, bull etc., are also be met with. The jar with tubular spout, which is conspicuously absent in Malwa proper, is present in Maharashtra. The Malwa ware can, therefore, be said to have undergone some change in form and fabric in Maharashtra; it resembles more that from Eran.
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A MALWA HOUSE WITH POTTERY KILN, INAMGAON C. 1400 B.C.
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*Fig. 5 A pottery kiln of the Malwa period*
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A pottery kiln of the Malwa period (Fig. 5) was uncovered at Inamgaon (Dist, Poona, Maharashtra). Structurally it is almost identical with that of the succeeding Jorwe period at the site which will be described later. In size, it is half of the latter. It is round (diameter, 1.55 m) with a fire chamber attached to it, and is provided with fuels for hot gas. The kiln was located in a house which could be identified as that of a potter.