The Black Pottery of Nizamabad

Anshu Ahuja

the exquisite craft of Black pottery of Nizamabad at the Museum of Indian Terracotta in Sanskriti Kala Kendra, Delhi. Thereupon, I planned a visit to this pottery cluster in Azamgarh district of Uttarpradesh. Upon visiting Nizamabad, I was mesmerized by the magic of black pottery. Also, the life of these craftsmen, their close knit community life and their wholesome perception of life despite financial constraints left an ever lasting impression on me and strengthened my vision towards life. The traditional Black pottery of Nizamabad is famous for its lustrous black finish with silver grey etching, floral bands and traditional medallion patterns resembling the bidri work. It is believed that the craft was brought to Nizamabad about 400 years ago during the reign of Emperor Alamgir when the potters were invited from Gujarat to come and live here in exchange for land.