A shimmering, metallic glaze of black is a trademark characteristic of Longpi pottery. This traditional art dating back to the Neolithic period, approximately 10,000 BC, has been practiced and preserved for generations by the Tangkhul tribe of Nungbi village in the gorgeous Indian state of Manipur. What’s remarkable about these exquisite pots is that each piece is handcrafted without employing a potter’s wheel. Every vessel is unique, with the potter’s creative signature imprinted into the work.
The earthenware produced in this village has for long been an essential source of livelihood for the artisans crafting it. It is made using a paste of serpentinite stone, or black rock, and brown powdered clay, with this material setting Longpi pottery apart from other pottery traditions. The serpentinite stone, called “leshonlung” within the region, is sourced locally and is largely found in and around this pottery village. Alongside, the dry months of the year are spent collecting the brown clay. The stone and clay are powdered by the craftspeople and mixed together using water. While the proportion of clay and stone can often vary depending on the products being made, the exact knowledge of how to accurately mix the materials is something that has been passed down to the Tangkhul artisans by their ancestors.
