Rooted in the pottery traditions of central Asia, Blue Pottery has become integral to Jaipur’s artisanal heritage. The art of crafting the cobalt blue ceramic ware travelled to Jaipur through diplomatic channels in the16th century. Historical records suggest that the Mughal emperor Akbar presented a blue-and-white ceramic artefact to King Sawai Man Singh I of Rajasthan. The latter was so fascinated by the gift that he became a patron and organised artisans in his kingdom to be trained in the art technique. This turned Jaipur into an important hub for Blue Pottery.

Mongolian, Chinese, Turkish, traced back to the 14th Century, even before their presence in India, in Rajasthan, ceramics or what’s known as blue pottery saw a decline during the Indian national movement and the early part of the 20th Century. However, its revival and emphasis of its legacy is one of the most memorable stories of pottery in India. Elevated to luxury, art, craft and artisanal dialogue, and present in museums, monuments and markets across the world, they combine ubiquity with skilled ingenuity.

With the waning of Royal patronage post 1950, Jaipur Blue Pottery felt the need for a revival. It was given a shot in the arm when the late ceramist Kripal Singh Shekhawat, a Padma Shri recipient founded the Kripal Kumbh pottery studio in Jaipur. His initiative along with the support of Maharani Gayatri Devi of Jaipur and crafts revivalist Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay ensured the craft tradition continued to shine bright and blue.