Jane Gibson - Hunting Potters in South Asia: A 26 year Journey in Search of the Traditional Potters of India and Pakistan

Acknowledgements

I AM INDEBTED TO T ERRY, MY HUSBAND, WHOSE WORK AS A doctor took me on many of these travels. I am also grateful to him for editing, proofreading and reminding me of events recorded in his diaries. From a series of articles published in pottery magazines, plus memories of many adventures, this book morphed into a pottery odyssey.

My thanks must also go to my potter friend Jackie Richardson for proofreading and to potters worldwide. To the studio potters who took me to meet the traditional potters and the traditional potters who were so welcoming and generous. Lastly, to Hannah Dakin of Matador Publishers for her guidance and encouragement.

Ceramic Reviewkindly allowed me to use parts of articles I had previously published:

Issue178: Potters of Bindapur

Issue 211: Changing Times

Issue 242: Breaking Tradition

Issue 272: End of an Era

www.ceramicreview.com

Clay

CIVILISATION AS WE KNOW IT, STARTED WITH THE DISCOVERY of fired clay. The sticky, red earth found at riversides was discovered to be pliable when raw and water resistant when fired and therefore useful for storage. With that discovery, mankind switched from being nomadic hunter-gatherers, moving around close to waterbodies in search of food, to settlers on the banks of rivers, now able to cultivate and store grain, vegetables and fruit. It was an important turning point in the history of mankind.

Terracotta went on to be used for cooking, building, ornamentation, recreation, currency and trade in different ways, in different ancient civilisations. The methods of making and firing are similar even today, creating an enduring bond from the ancient to the contemporary potters.