A cluster is defined as a geographic concentration(a city/town/few adjacent villages and their adjoining areas)of units producing near similar products and facing common opportunities and threats.An artisan cluster is defined as geographically concentrated(mostly in villages/townships)household units producing handicraft/handloom products.In a typical cluster, such producers often belong to a traditional community,producing the long-established products for generations.Indeed,many artisan clusters are centuries old Artisan.

About Nutan Vasahat Cluster:-

Nutan Vasahat Cluster falls under Maharashtra State in Jalna district.

The Nutan Vasahat Cluster is able to form above 500 Artisans and 15 SHGs supporting the strong work force.The mobilisation gains momentum day by day.

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Pottery and Clay Objects:-:-

Terracotta is considered as poor man’s sculpture.It is one of the earliest medium in which man began to mould.The clay used is generally a blend of two to three clays found in river beds, pits and ditches. More often than not the fuel used is one of the local resources available in the form of twigs, dry leaves or firewood.The kilns where the clay pots are baked are operated at temperatures between 700 – 800 degrees celcius.

The womenfolk in the khumbkar families are the potters who work on the wheels making the round necks and the upper halves of the pots.They also make solid clay toys and dolls which are cast in burnt clay moulds.Large figurines of gods and goddesses are also made in clay and generate a lot of income for these families.


India is rich in her terracotta and pottery traditions many of which have their roots in prehistory. Pottery has a wide universality and its tradition goes back to span of five millennium.Terracotta pottery has been called the lyric of handicrafts because of its irresistible appeal.A variety of earthen objects are created such as lamps, pitchers, flower vases, pots, musical instruments, candle stands etc. 

Raw materials:- 

The chief  raw material of collected from nearby tank. Fuel is another important raw material for firing which provides durability to the clay is collected from the agricultural lands.Dry coconut stems are also used along with hay and forest wastes.

Tools :-

The potter’s wheel with ball bearing is the major equipment used in the craft. Even electrically operated wheels are available for us. Other tools are cutting ,shaping tools , cutting wire, hand decoration wheel.Traditional kiln is used for banking of terracotta articals.   

Process:- 

The shapes which are required for a variety of uses are turned on the wheel.The certain portions such as the spout or the handle are left out.They are casted separately and than attached to the body. After it, the decoration is done by incising patterns on the surface for making geometrical patterns. 
 
The clay mixed with ash and sand is kneaded by feet, collected and cut with lahasur.It is then kneaded with hand, on peeda and a lump is made.All the solid particles are removed. The ready clay is kept on wheel for making various forms.A potters wheel has short sports, turns on a pivot of hard wood or metal and is provided with a large hub which acts as a revolving table.A vertical stick is inserted in the hole in the rim.The potter throws the kneaded clay into the centre of the wheel, and spins the wheel around with the stick. Due to the centrifugal force the lump of clay is pulled outwards and upwards and shaped into a vessel.This is pulled out with a string, dried and fired in a potters kiln.Clay article after firing turns to terracotta.
 
The pots are fired in simple open-pit kilns that are very efficient and inexpensive for firing pots at a temperature of 700 - 800 degree Celsius.The pots are arranged in layers of pots, a layer of leaves, twigs and cow dung cake is some times added.The mound is then covered with a blanket of rice straw which, in turn is covered with a thin layer of loamy soil.The firing takes four to five hours.
 
Black, red and yellow clay are used for making terracotta items, which are collected in the form of small pieces from Mysore .The material is mixed properly and dried under the hot sun so that any sort of moisture, if present, may evaporate.Then the mixture of wet clay is filtered through a fine sieve to remove pebble. After giving shape with hands the items are then baked in the improvisede kilns covered with cow dung cakes, fuel and saw dust etc.
 
The clay, mixed with ash and sand is kneaded by feet.Then it is kneaded with hand on peeda & a lump is made.All the solid particles like gravel, small pebbles, twigs etc. are removed.The ready clay is kept on wheel to make various forms.A potters wheel has soft spokes, turns on a pivot of hard wood or metal and is provided with a large hub, which acts as revolving table.A vertical stick is inserted in the hole in the rim.The potter throws the kneaded clay into the centre of the wheel and spins the wheel around with a stick. Due to the centrifugal force the lump of clay is pulled outwards & upwards and shaped into a vessel.This is pulled out with a string, dried and fired in a potters kiln.Clay article after firing turns to terracotta.

Techniques:- 

Artisans who throw the items on wheel in rough shape were taught how to get shapes of different  items as per required sizes. Artisans were advised to make artistic items with the use of thrown pots. The thrown items kept in shade for obtaining leather hard position and then taught to create cut designs with the use of knife. This method was more suited for lampshades.

In the leather hard situation only technique of etching was coached to them as the design appear prominently with etched portion around the design.

Creation of designs by making coils of clay and affixing on base products provided beautiful look.
For smoothening of finished product while it is leather hard position with the use of quartz pebbles was coached to get very good finish for the products.

For better appearance ,which enhances the value of the products was stressed for the crafts persons and taught to given varnish coating, terracotta color application and coating of colors. The importance of color schemes was also informed to participants.

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How to reach:-

Jalna town is well connected to state capital and national capital by broad gauge railway line. Major towns of the state are also connected by state highways.