THE LOW TEMPERATURE glazed pottery of Jaipur is accorded the name "blue pottery" due to its predominantly blue patterns. Wheel turning and moulding techniques are used in combination-the necks and bases are wheel-tumed, the body is shaped in a plaster of Paris mould and the separate elements are joined. The surface is then engobed, a process involving the application of a clean white coat on the sanded and dried object so as to make the surface smooth, white and blot free. The patterns, largely florals rendered in the Persian style, are painted on in metal oxide pigments (mineral pigments) and the whole object is given a glass glaze. During the firing. the pigments develop the characteristic brilliant shades of turquoise blue, pale green, yellow and red-brown and the milky glaze turns transparent. Since the presence of water can cause the object to collapse during firing, blue pottery is dried at various stages during its production. The pottery is finished with a transparent glass glaze. Generally, women perform the task of grinding the pigments while men undertake the throwing and moulding of the pottery forms, the painting and the firing. According to local legend, Maharaja Sawai Ram II was watching his kite-master compete with other challengers when the thread of the imperial kite was cut by that of two brothers, Churamani and Kaluram, who were potters and had coated their kite string with the blue green glass-like dust of their pottery. The maharaja was impressed and gave them posts in the School of Art and settled them in the Goonga Mehra ki Gali in Gangori Bazaar; Thus, blue pottery came to Jaipur.