Pottery is the most sensual of all arts and we have had a great tradition of pottery making in Indian history. For thousands of years pottery art has been among the most beautiful art forms and it speaks volumes about our civilization. The real beginning of Indian pottery dates back to Indus Valley Civilization and this art of shaping and baking clay articles, earthenware and porcelain has continued since then. While pottery and earthenware are definitely utilitarian and often decorative, porcelain and studio pottery belong to the sphere of art.
Similarly the stone-carving tradition in India is one of the richest in the world. India has deep-rooted tradition of stonework, as is evident from temples in Khajuraho, Konark, Martanda and Ellora etc, which have richly carved sculptures and intricate work on them. Stone craft in India is not only restricted to ornate carvings on temples or sculptures of deities, but it is also used in making items like carved panels, tiles, paper weights, pen stands, models of historical buildings, sculptures of animals and humans etc.
