mumbaimart.comClay Artists of Mankhurd
Hand-built tibbis for monsoon rains are crafted on rooftops in Mankhurd, each shaped by wind, sun, and generations of rain lore.
On rooftops overlooking Thane Creek, coils of red soil rise into tibbis—low, wide pots designed to catch and hold rainwater during Mumbai’s downpours. The clay, sourced locally or from nearby regions, is wedged by hand, kneaded until air pockets vanish and texture settles into a uniform stiffness. The artists do not use wheels; each curve, lip, and base is formed by folding and smoothing wet clay, fingers pressing just enough to fuse without cracking. The forms evolve as they dry, guided by the pressure of palm and thumb alone.
Drying is an active phase—shadows move across rooftops, humidity shifts hourly, and pieces must be turned, shaded, or exposed to control cracking. Artists judge readiness by touch: cool and heavy means still wet, warm and light means ready for firing. Kilns here are often open bonfires, clay pots buried in straw and husk, stacked in a cone, then fired for hours, sometimes overnight. The resulting tibbis are dense, porous, and heat-responsive—designed to condense and cool water naturally.
Each pot carries subtle variations—thicker walls in one area for support, a ridge left by the thumb for grip, a uneven rim that tells where the hand paused or adjusted. These are not flaws but marks of direct making, each one built for a specific function in monsoon rituals, not decoration. The making is communal; neighbours watch, children help roll coils, and tips pass silently—how to lift without breaking, when to add water, when to wait.
