History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c20.s3.t1.8

v1.c20.s3.t1.8

This characteristic of 'red and black' pottery of Harappan civilization is easily recognizable. A few polychrome potteries that have also been unearthed in these sites are painted in green and red on a buff slip. Chemical analysis has revealed that red or solomon colours in these objects are due to the presence of iron components in the clay. The slip of bright red colour found on some potteries is due to ferric oxide. The black and chocolate designs that are found painted on the body owe their colour to oxides of manganese. The colouring agents used by the Indus valley people are used even today by potters. Many of the ancient techniques of selecting and applying colouring materials have come down to the present time also.