Interestingly, the common potter’s wheel is not used at all in this art form. The craftsmen and women manually shape a mixture of serpentinite stone and black clay into different forms. After shaping, these are dried first in the shade and then in the sun. The pieces are then meticulously burnished to achieve a flawless finish. During this phase, craftsmen also punch holes for cane accents to be added later. The final products are bisque fired at 900°C for the distinct deep black hue, durability and a metal-like sheen. The potters make a variety of artefacts, such as the chamkha and khoram (water pots), phampai (cooker), tengot (a kind of pot), and cups. These are not only beautiful, but are also revered as part of the cultural identity of Manipur.