Pottery is considered to be a measure of a country's degree of civilization. It is one fo the oldest crafts and plays a dominant role in our everyday life.

It is believed that primitive man came to know about the burning of clay through some accidental fire and the first pottery or terracota was formed. With the advent of the potter's wheel, various new types of pottery articles could be produced. Although many modern methods of pottery manufacture have been introduced but the production os pottery by the wheel still enjoys a major share.

The egyptians seem to be the first people to put glaze on pottery and the art then spread to the Middle East. The Muslims introduced glazed pottery in India about 1000 years ago. First of all it arrived in the Sind and then spread to Multan, Delhi and Khurja.

The history of pottery in Khurja is believed to date back to the times of Timur the Lame in the 14th century. After conquering parts of North India, while returning to his own country, he asked his soldiers that whosoever wanted to stay back could do so. The forces of Timur the Lame consisted of many potters belonging to Egypt, Syria, Turkey and Persia. Some of these potters stayed back in Delhi, Multan, Jaipur and Khurja. These artisans of Khurja started manufacturing blue Pottery with the help of red clay. Khurja has since been a centre of traditional pottery. The ornamental blue pottery of Khurja has earned for it a special distinction.

During the 2nd World War, there was regeneration in Pottery Industry of Khurja when the production of ceramic wareon modern lines was introduced and a factory was opened at Khurja to meet the requirements of the war in the year 1942. This factory was subsequently closed down in the year 1946.

It was in the year 1949 that the State government took special interest for developing Pottery Industry in Khurja. Steps were taken to impart modern training to the traditional artisans. These steps have yielded positive results.

The Pottery manufacturing units in Khurja are now producing earthenware, stoneware, decorated pieces od Pottery, insulators, technical ceramic products, bone china crockery, sanitary wares, ceramic tiles etc.

Khurja pottery industry today presents an unique blend of modernity and tradition. U.P's tableau is an effort to showcase this remarkable industry before the nation.

The tableau is in two parts. The front part of the tableau depicts a platform with revolving Potter's wheel decorated with different blue ceramic wares and jars. The rear part shows the artisans at work on the Potter's wheel and few others are painting the artistic decoration on the blue ceramic ware. The sides of the platform are decorated with beautiful ceramic tiles manufactured in Khurja.