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Design Resource
Pottery in Bicholim
Small Scale Pottery Industry
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Preparing and Storing Clay
Pottery clay is ground into powder. This powder is combined with water and other ingredients to form what's called the clay body. The type of clay, how it's prepared and the amount of water used are all variables in how the final product turns out. [1] This clay is then stored in the workplaces covered in sheets of polythene so that it remains moist. The clay can retain its moistness for more than a year. Pottery clay needs to be moist, durable and exhibit a good amount of plasticity. This means that it's easy to mould and can retain its shape. Chunks are then detached from this huge dump which is then used to make pottery. The removed chunks are mixed and churned evenly by using feet so that the mixture of clay becomes consistent and the water content is distributed evenly. This process takes about half an hour till the craftsmen feel that the material is smooth and uniform.
