Bowl

The Rathwa and Bhilala tribals of the Chhota Udepur region of central Gujarat have used a unique form of pottery of the type shown here which they make themselves. However, other earthen pots as well as their terracotta votive figures of horses and elephants are made by the Hindu potters living in the vicinity.

The bowls and plates of this genre of pottery are made by women potters by using the base of an upturned terracotta pot as mould over which clay is pressed by hands. Baked on low open fire, the inside of the pan is covered with lac oozing from the pipal tree.

This particular bowl was made by a Rathwa woman potter Thavli in Chhota Udepur. Thavli, who was the last potter using the technique of glazing with pipal lac died sometime in the 1980s