The Pottery Shop is a warm, cramped space full of clayware precariously balanced on tired looking shelves. All items are handmade by local craftsmen. They have lamps, ornaments, teapots, plates, mugs, pendants, shampoo containers for hotels and spas, fragrant oils, ashtrays; the works. The prices are reasonable and you can get something decent for Rs 350 (a ceramic pendant or key tag) and the clay mugs start at Rs 500.
Customized clayware can be ordered for corporate events or social gatherings or whatever the case may be. You have to visit the shop and talk it out, the rate will depend on the quantity of the order.
Jumbo Elephant Mugs!
There are few who would not delight in the giant grand mugs resembling an elephant’s foot (Rs 800 last time I checked).
They also have the universal go-to mugs for lazy gift givers. The usual mugs bearing blanket declarations like ‘World’s Greatest Mom’ get a new and rustic twist in etched clay. If you want a last minute gift for someone then I would suggest a visit to the Pottery shop. There is nothing original in the phrasing, but it is a unique and pleasant alternative to the eyesores available at say, Uthum Pathum.
And I’m sure any smoker would be interested in the elephant foot shaped ashtrays, or even the Colombar aunties who haven’t smoked a day in their lives but insist on amassing an impressive collection of ashtrays for decorative purposes.
Lackluster Lamps And Crude Creatures
Two gripes about certain items. I feel it is necessary to mention them because they are in stark contrast to the rest of their products which are all beautifully crafted.
1. Lamps – There is nothing in the design of these lamps to justify the steep Rs 10,000 pricetag. The lamps all have a plain grey clay base and an equally plain lamp shade. Perhaps the price would be understandable if the lamp shade was impressive, like one of those marvelous lotus lamp shades.
2. Creatures – There are some animal figurines which could be generously described as whimsical. Why The Pottery Shop felt it necessary to display these poorly crafted figurines is baffling. Is there some allure to a misshapen elephant that looks like it was created in a pottery class for hyperactive children? Unless it was your child who created it, I venture to think not.
These items all detract from the fine craftsmanship evident in the rest of The Pottery Shop, which is a real shame.
Indi’s Long Lost Brother?
Both times I visited, there was one guy behind the counter who looks like Indi’s long lost brother. He was remarkably chilled out considering that every single item in the shop was breakable. There were no hostile passive aggressive signs saying things like ‘Once broken considered sold’, ‘Look but don’t touch!’ etc.
Indi’s-long-lost-brother was friendly and didn’t seem to mind being bombarded with pottery-related questions for a good 20 minutes (maybe since the shop was deserted on a Monday morning he was just grateful for the company).
Conclusion
On the whole, I really liked The Pottery Shop and I will return to keep up with their new designs (or when I am on Lazy-Gift-Giver mode).
