Craft Name: Longpi Pottery
Region: Manipur
CRAFT
HISTORY
Longpi Pottery originates from Longpi village in Manipur, known as the birthplace of black stone pottery, locally called Longpi Ham. This rare craft is distinctive because it is made without a potter’s wheel, using hand-building techniques with a mixture of ground black serpentinite stone and special brown clay found only in Longpi. According to local mythology, the craft was a divine gift from Goddess Panthoibi, revered as the mother of artefact-making.
WHAT MAKES IT UNIQUE:
- Completely wheel-less pottery, shaped entirely by hand.
- Historically, Longpi vessels were used in royal ceremonies, community feasts, brewing rice beer, and rituals
Received a
GI tag in 2023
COLOURS
- Deep matte black
- Smoky charcoal or dark brown depending on firing atmosphere
MOTIFS
How much time does it take to make a product, and how many artisans are involved in the process?
Depending on size and drying/firing conditions, a Longpi product typically takes 4–7 days to complete and requires 2-3 artisans.
RAW MATERIAL
- Black serpentine stone
- Weathered brown clay
- Chiro na leaves for polishing and blackening
- Cane/bamboo for handles
- Firewood, straw, and biomass for bonfire firing
CRAFT MAKING PROCESS
HOW TO IDENTIFY GENUINE AND AUTHENTIC CRAFT:
- Durable, heavy feel due to stone
- Minor handmade irregularities from wheel-less shaping.