Black Pottery Nizamabad Uttar Pradesh

Nizamabad in Azamgarh district of Uttar Pradesh is known for a unique black pottery with silver-pattern inlay created entirely from black clay from the Tons river bed. The distinctive finish — a lustrous black surface with silver geometric and floral patterns — is achieved by polishing the clay surface with a stone tool before firing, and by the unique chemical composition of the Nizamabad clay that turns glossy black in the reducing atmosphere of the kiln. No paint or glaze is applied: the silver pattern is achieved through the polish pattern trapping burnished clay. Nizamabad black pottery has GI certification. Products include pots, vases, boxes, and decorative items. The craft is practised by a small community of Kumhar (potter) families who have maintained the tradition for generations.