In the last blog, the opening picture showed Joanna’s collection of little pottery animals made locally, so Sue and I were keen to visit to add one or two to our collection of small creatures that inhabit our shelves and mantelpieces.
Sue wearing her lucky coat, we set off with Joanna in the driving seat and Piyush to help us to visit the potter, but alas he was not at home. However, his family were keen to help us – but the main problem was finding things that were small enough to pack without bits breaking off.
Purchases made, we made our way back to the car where we found women at the water pump chatting, hair-washing, washing clothes and undertaking other water-related chores:
Joanna had to do a three-point turn which Piyush ‘supervised’, ensuring she didn’t go into the ditch (or the women at the pump) though there was no chance of that:
As we left, we came across this pig at the edge of the village, wearing a wonderful neck brace. Joanna explained that it will stop the pig breaking into the fields because the gates are narrower than the horizontal stick. Now how’s that for innovation! (Sue needs to find the equivalent for squirrels and the birdfeeder.)
Sarai 1-2-3 sounds peaceful, joyful
It certainly was!
The pottery is beautfully modelled – particularly the first image depiciting figures of women threshing and grinding and generally making with kitchen equipment. I’m assuming these are unfired pieces?
Yes, I think so – we also thought they were unusual. We stuck with small portable animals.
I’ve got a crocodile from there and two elephants playing musical instruments. The crocodile was a bit of a mission to bring back as over a foot long.
Indeed! Having packed our collection in newspaper and some bubblewrap from Johanna, we decided to put them in our carry on luggage for the flight to Delhi. A rather ham fisted woman official at airport security insisted on unwrapping all of them, braking a bit off the tiger and confiscating the porcupine as it had spikes. I guess you can’t be too careful about porcupine related terrorism.
That’s a real shame. The crocodile flew baggage class!
Only way to travel if you’re a crocodile I always think…
I think the cups may be diyas – little clay oil lamps. They hold oil and you insert twisted soft fluffy cotton as the wick.
I’m sure you’re right – too small for chai I think. Lovely delicate little things.