GLASS BANGLES

Glass Bangle has been customary and traditionally in use since more than three hundred years in the sub-continent (Indo-Pak).

In India its manufacturing was started in the late 19th century in a town called ’’FIROZABAD” It is also said that people breath not air, but glass. It is located in North central India in western Uttar Paradesh state 40 KM from Agra and around 200 KM from New Delhi. In the ancient period it was know as “GHANDWAR NAGAR”.

In the start glass bangle manufacturing was hand process, but with the passage of time. It has passed different phases.

The glass bangles are being commonly used religiously in Hindu, Buddha and Muslim womens of Asia in general and Indo-Pak in particular.

Normally the thin, decorative & colourful glass bangles & women can not separated with each other. The women of SAARC member countries use glass bangles frequently.

CERAMICS

 HISTORY & BACK GROUND OF CERAMICS


The history of pottery is as old as 1500 BC dawn of Neolithic age. The history also reveals that putter’s wheel was introduced and used for to produce. Patterns items. With the passage of time the pace of development continued and present ceramic items are the latest crafts of Sindh.

The pottery and is also recognized and named as “KASHI” Which entered in Sindh in 15th century from Iran and Turkey. The Islamic touches may also be seen in Bahmbore items (722 AD) which also consider as the part of this cluster & history.

To promote and to keep alive the ceramic crafts the Sindh Small Industries Corp. (551C) has established a ceramic Training cum production centre in the year 1991 at Nasarpur District, Matiyari which is located 48 KM northeast of the city and houses of the tomb of Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai the great Sindhi Sufi saint. The town is also fame for its Handicrafts including Lacquer work. Glazed pottery, sussi and Ajrak (hand loom cloth) and embroidery.










 RAW-MATERIAL

The following raw-material is being used in the production ceramic production.

S.No. Procurement Source
1. River Clay Local from other District
2. Colour -do-
3. Coating Clay -do-
4. Red Saud -do-
5. Red Leads -do-
6. Cobalt Oxide -do-
7. Copper Oxide -do-
8. Plaster of Paris -do-
9. Borax -do-
10. Sindur -do-
11. Soda -do-
12. Wood -do-
13. Silica -do-
14. Colour imported
BLUE POTTERY

It is well known fact and inconformity to the past history the use of blue colour was common and still liking by the customers, Nasarpur & Hala are the main centres where the blue pottery is still in production, small units are engaged in manufacturing pottery product & tiles. Which is specialty of the area In Nasarpur there are around 17 artisans.
Further more Hala is an other centre which is very much famous in the sub-continent in art of pottery, wood work, cloth printing, woven cloth Suti & Khadi in colour full designs. In Hala 55 artisans are working in 4 different production houses earning Rs.3, 000/- to
Rs. 15,000/- PM. As the unit are locating in residence hence the woman labour is also sharing in production. They are producing 14,400/- different items annually. Which are Guldan, Box, Hot pot, Wall pieces, Gamla, Tables and marketing it in Hala, Bhit Shah, Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas, Sukkur & Islamabad.

In Nasarpur the artisan earn Rs. 3,000/- to 4,000/- per month depending upon their skill, experience and expertise. None of the lady worker is involved in this skill.

HISTORY OF AJRAK

1. DESCRIPTION, HISTORY & BACKGROUND OF AJRAK.

The name of Ajrak is derived from “Azrak” which means “Blue” in Persian & Arabic.
It is a textile item with rich crimson & deep indigo. It relates with the ancient civilization of Indus valley. The civilization was found its existence around 1500 BC to 2500 BC.
While excavation of Mohenjodaro. A kind priest was found with a shawl around his shoulders, decorated with a trefoil pattern (like a three leafed clover) with small circles and the interior of which with red pigment. Similar trefoil pattern has been discovered in Mesopotamia and also on the royal of Tutankhamen (of the ancient pharaohs).
The combination of three colors is a symbol of three sun disks to-gether to represent unity of god’s of the Sun, Water & Earth. It also reflects in the current / modern Ajrak.

 DEFINATION OF AJRAK
Ajrak is an un-avoidable part of clothing culturally inherited by males of Sindh province. Normally men wear it around the shoulder, where as female use it as Dupatta / Chaddar as shawls. Ajrak is usually around 2.5 to 3 meter piece of cotton sheeting / silk sheeting (some time in two parts) duly hand block printed in mostly three dominating colours where as a little black and white is also used to define geometric pattern.
In Sindh Ajrak is also offered as token of high respect to the guest. Further more ajrak also place on the caffen of departed persons as taken of respect from society. It is extensively used as gift on happy & sorrow occasions.
 Geographic Location
Now a days Bhit shah, Khyber, Matiyari, Matli, Tando Mohammad Khan are the main and well known centres in which artisans are settled and engaged in the production.

Core Actors of Ajrak
 i. Number of manufacturing units
i. Around 50 to 55 small manufacturing units are engaged in the production of Ajrak in Bhit Shah, Khyber, Matiyari, Matli, Tando Mohammad Khan.