Anthropological Study of Motifs in Kalpouregan Pottery

Pottery as a handmade originated from humans’ thoughts goes back to Neolithic period. It has always provided a ground for demonstrating thoughts and beliefs of pottery craftsmen and women; and, it is consideredas best cultural material and guidance for deeper recognition of lifestyle and thoughts of its manufacturer.
Kalpouregan is one of the places known for its potteries, and traditional way of making them still being continued. Pottery making activity in the region is just done by craftswomen, through usage of very simple tools and their intrinsic motifs. These women have learned the art from their ancestors and maintained it, with no change. This adherence to traditions and not being effected by related traditions of other regions are among the most important characteristics of these potteries which makes them distinguished from other samples. Studying culture, traditions and custom of the region in past and present may help us to identify these motifs, which undoubtedly are based on culture of the region.
Kalpouregan pottery is a handmade originated from thoughts of Balouch craftswomen; while, accommodating an extended material and spiritual scope of Balouch culture, in itself. Studying motifs may demonstrate important dimensions of the culture and studying the culture on the other hand may help better understanding of the motifs carved on potteries. The paper has been prepared to the aim of such understanding through an approach to anthropology of art, to answer the following question: “Motifs carved on Kalpouregan potteries are of what meaning for their creators?” This descriptive-analytical method of research has been performed as a field study through making interviews, photography, filming, and participant observation, to collect data. The author has tried to study and analyze the motifs based on framework of Balouch society, through “art theory” as a semantics system from among various theories based on anthropology of art. In anthropology of art, there is no theory or theoretical system specifically provided about art. Those existing are merely very general opinions or descriptive theories stated in works of those anthropologists dealing with art, according to their specific field experiences. These opinions may be used as sensitizer theories. Mainprinciple of anthropology is method or shape, and the subject will be explained and analyzed in relation to its much expanded background as the method of analysis, i.e. culture of Kalpouregan region. Therefore, no theory provided by a specific anthropologist has been considered as the basis for analysis and conclusion in the paper; and, some of very general opinions stated by some of them have been used.
After shape and style analyses of motifs to represent meaning through shapes, the author has referred to other artistic works of the region like needlworks, Kilim, and etc. to decrypt shapes and designs.
The results show that: 1- The motifs represent customs, beliefs and traditions and in general, various levels of pottery making in culture of Kalpouregan culture; and, 2- Craftswomen of the region are occupied with carved potteries to maintain, continue, reproduce, and transfer the culture.