The 500-year old black pottery of Nizamabad is influenced by, yet independent of, Bidri work. It stands out as a distinct art form with its dark, lustrous wares. Created from local clay, the masterpieces are engraved with silver patterns. Originally practised in Kachchh, Gujarat, the pottery found its new home in Nizamabad during the Mughal era. It's practised by the skilled artisans of the Prajapati community.

The locally available clay is extremely pliable. It allows artisans to mould it into a variety of objects. This includes surahis (long-necked jars), vases, flower pots, lamps, incense holders, and statues. The freshly moulded clay objects are put through high temperatures. Then the items are washed with powdered vegetable matter. To achieve a shiny surface and protect it from scratches, the objects are then buffed with mustard oil. Sharp twigs are skillfully used to create detailed geometric and floral patterns.

To achieve its distinctive black hue, artisans use the smoke-firing, oiling, and baking methods. The final step is polishing with a ghont, a quartz stone. The grooves are carefully filled with fine quality silver powder, derived from mercury, zinc, and lead. Once washed and polished, the silver work gleams against the black surface, a testament to the outstanding artistry.

The black pottery of Nizamabad was certified with a Geographical Indication (GI) tag in 2015.

In 2022, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi gifted black pottery items to the Japanese Prime Minister, Fumio Kishida, at the G7 Summit. It's believed there are many benefits to eating from these clay pots. They supposedly preserve the nutrients of the food while also adding minerals to it.

Any information on this page is anecdotal and based on publicly available details. If you're interested in learning more, click here.