History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c15.s5: Technology of the Chalcolithic Painted Pottery
History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c15.s5
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Technology of the Chalcolithic Painted Pottery
v1.c15.s5.1
All the ceramic wares of the Bronze Age/Chalcolithic period which are red wares painted with black designs with its variants such as the Harappan, the OCP, the Kayatha-Malwa, Jorwe and the Lustrous Red ware fabrics are the products of identical technology. The red colour of the surface is due to the presence of iron compounds in clay which impart the red colour to the pottery when fired under oxidising conditions.
v1.c15.s5.2
The temperature required for such red wares is around 800°F. The bright red slip such as that on the Harappan pottery is said to be due to ferric oxide and the presence of manganese oxide in the pigment has made them black or dark brown.
v1.c15.s5.3
The designs were executed with manganiferous haematite and hence they have turned black in firing. Even today the potters of north India produce black-on red painted pottery by using the same materials.