Earthen ware was long invented by human beings to primarily
meet their requirements to store food, which gradually grew to take shapes of
vessels and utensils to meet his cooking requirements too. They were basically
handmade raw utensils made by baking earthen materials popularly known as "Patra"
in the Rigveda era. They primarily comprised of vessels, pans and pots/Jars, Dishes/Plates,
etc.).
Gradually as man evolved the earthen pots too went under changes.
They grew to become smoother with better finish and further evolved
to get decorated with various designs depicting day to day life,
scenery etc. Though floral motifs remained the most popular out
of the all. Apart from these a great amount of experimentation
with its sizes and shapes too were visible.
Earthen pots can be found in different
parts of the globe. They reflect the affluence of the traditions and customs prevailing
in every region and the artistic exuberance of its inhibitors.
With the advent
of metals and the influence of civilization earthen pots gradually lost their
demand. In comparison to the metal wares they were found to be less durable and
more susceptible to wear and tear.
India too had a rich history of earthenwares.
You can find painted earthenware with dark lustrous body, representing the country"s
social customs and life styles Earthen ware are available in tin glazed and porcelain
and in many other baked earth materials.
Easy2source.com lists a wide range
of earthenware and its suppliers. To view the entire list please click here.