The city of Rishton is located on the section of the Fergana Valley between Kokand and Fergana. There are no such attractions as ancient monuments of art or fortresses. This small town is famous for its potters. About a thousand years ago, the production of ceramics began here, and to this day, it continues to develop and gain in scale. The city is located on one of the many branches of the Great Silk Road, so the demand for ceramics has been constant since the beginning of pottery in this place.
Most often, pottery is a matter of a dynasty of craftsmen. Alisher Nazirov, a master of ceramics, has been living in this city for seven decades. But in his family, he was the first to engage in pottery. Nowadays, Alisher Nazirov has already been awarded a UNESCO diploma and is a member of the Academy of Arts. Raw materials for ceramic products are extracted near Rishton. Red clay, which is abundant in the Fergana region, is ideal for pottery. In Alisher Nazirov’s pottery house, blue ceramics are made according to the traditions. A unique color to the ornaments and patterns of ceramics is given by the painting technique called “Chor Gul” – “Four Flowers”.
Only natural elements are used for dyes. The blue color is achieved due to the use of cobalt, copper oxide is used for blue paint, and iron is used for brown color. However, these are not the only ingredients of the dyes. Each craftsman keeps his own color composition secret, passing it exclusively to selected students. Against the white glaze background, the craftsmen manually draw the most intricate patterns, from national ornaments to geometrically rigorous drawings, consisting of the smallest elements. Alisher Nazirov interned with ceramics master Isojichi Asakura in Japan and participated in international exhibitions. His works are kept in many major museums in Japan, Russia, and Uzbekistan. The uniqueness of each product is amazing.
Since everything is done manually, from shaping to painting, it is impossible to find two identical plates, bowls, or ceramic tiles. They are all unique and beautiful in their own way. It is impossible to choose one thing or decide what is better. Alisher Nazirov’s son continued his father’s pottery, turning it into a family tradition, and together with his father is developing pottery in Rishton and trains students at the School of Ceramics.
The school was Alisher Nazirov’s old dream, which was fulfilled in 2005. There are many ready-made works of the craftsman in the pottery house, which are regularly updated, bringing new ideas to the pottery craft and inspiring students to devote themselves to the chosen business fully.
Canaan Travel recommends you to visit Uzbekistan, the heart of the Great Silk Road, and fully enjoy the charm of the East.