Multani blue pottery is the turquoise-and-cobalt glazed ceramic tradition that gives Multan's shrines their colour, and it is also sold as plates, vases, tiles and tea sets for everyday use. The craft, known locally as Kashi work or Kashigari, is centuries old and now made by a small number of workshops, mostly in and around the old city. This guide explains where the tradition comes from, what separates a well-made piece from a mass-produced one, where to buy it in Multan, and how to get it home in one piece.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Local name | Kashi work, Kashigari |
| Colour source | Cobalt oxide (blue) and copper oxide (turquoise), under a clear glaze |
| Earliest local example | The shrine of Bahauddin Zakariya, around 1262 |
| Where it's made | Workshops in and around Multan's old city |
| What's sold | Tiles, plates, bowls, vases, tea sets, decorative pieces |
| Where to buy | Hussain Agahi and the old city's craft shops; some workshops sell directly |
| How it travels | Fragile; needs careful wrapping and padded packing, best in hand luggage for small pieces |
Where the craft comes from
Multan's tradition of glazed tile and pottery work is generally traced back through Persia, with the technique itself thought to originate further east, in Kashgar, and to have reached Multan in the medieval period along trade and scholarly routes that also carried Sufi teachers into the region. Persian potters are documented working in Multan by the early 13th century, and the tradition found one of its earliest and most important local expressions in architecture rather than tableware: the shrine of Bahauddin Zakariya, built around 1262, is regarded as one of the earliest glazed-tile monuments in the subcontinent. The same blue-and-turquoise palette that decorates the shrine still defines Multani pottery today.
The blue and turquoise colours come from cobalt oxide and copper oxide respectively, worked into a glaze that is then fired over hand-thrown or moulded clay, with the ornament typically built from floral motifs and geometric patterning rather than figurative designs. The craft flourished for centuries under royal and later provincial patronage, and it declined as that patronage thinned out; the Punjab government set up an Institute of Blue Pottery Development in 1985, run through the Punjab Small Industries Corporation, specifically to keep the skills from disappearing as fewer traditional kilns stayed in business.
What makes a piece good quality
Multani blue pottery is sold at every level from tourist-market decal work to genuine hand-painted, kiln-fired pieces, and the difference is not always obvious at a glance. A few things to check before buying:
- Look at the glaze surface. A hand-applied glaze has slight variation and depth to the colour; a printed or decal pattern under a clear glaze looks flat and perfectly uniform.
- Check the weight and thickness. Genuine Multani pottery is usually a heavier, thicker-bodied ceramic than the thin, light imitations sometimes sold as souvenirs.
- Look underneath. Hand-thrown pieces often show slight irregularities in the base and rim; mould-cast, factory pieces are perfectly even.
- Ask where it was made. A shop or maker able to describe the workshop and the firing process is a reasonable sign the piece is genuine Kashi work rather than an imported imitation.
- Tap it gently. A well-fired ceramic piece gives a clear, ringing sound rather than a dull thud.
None of this is foolproof. Prices vary by size, complexity and the amount of hand-painted detail, so treat any figure quoted online as a rough guide, and compare a few pieces before buying.
Where to buy it in Multan
The old city, particularly around Hussain Agahi and the wider bazaar area near the fort mound, is where most of Multan's blue pottery is sold, alongside embroidered fabrics and the city's other crafts; our guide to shopping in Multan covers the bazaars more broadly. Saddar Bazaar, on the Cantt side of the city, also has established pottery sellers and manufacturers who sell directly rather than through the old city's general craft stalls.
Buying directly from a workshop, where you can see pieces being painted or fired, gives the clearest sense of what you are paying for, though not every workshop is set up for casual visitors, so it is worth asking locally or through your hotel which ones welcome buyers rather than turning up unannounced.
How to pack it to travel
Blue pottery is genuinely fragile, more so than it looks, and a piece that survives a market stall can still crack in a rushed suitcase.
- Wrap each piece individually in soft cloth or bubble wrap, with extra padding around any handles, spouts or thin edges.
- Pack pieces in the centre of your bag, surrounded by clothes, rather than against the case's hard sides.
- Carry small or valuable pieces as hand luggage if you are flying, since checked bags are handled roughly.
- Ask the shop to box it if you are buying a larger set; many sellers in the old city are used to packing pottery for travel and do it more securely than a shopping bag allows.
- Buy slightly more than you think you need if the pieces are a set, since breakages in transit are common enough that a spare piece or two is worth the extra weight.
Is it worth buying?
Yes, if you want something distinctly Multani rather than a generic souvenir. Genuine, hand-painted blue pottery is one of the few crafts in Pakistan that ties directly back to a specific city's architecture, and buying from the old city supports a tradition the provincial government itself has had to step in to keep alive. It is not the easiest thing to carry home safely, so factor the packing effort into the decision, and buy smaller, sturdier pieces if you are travelling light or have several more stops after Multan.
Frequently asked questions
What gives Multani blue pottery its colour?
Cobalt oxide produces the deep blue and copper oxide the turquoise, both applied as part of the glaze before the piece is fired.
How can I tell if blue pottery is handmade rather than mass-produced?
Look for slight variation in the glaze and shape, a heavier body, and an uneven base or rim. Perfectly uniform colour and shape usually indicates a printed or mould-cast piece rather than hand-painted Kashi work.
Where is the best place to buy blue pottery in Multan?
The old city around Hussain Agahi has the widest choice, and Saddar Bazaar has established sellers who work directly with manufacturers. Buying from a workshop, where possible, gives the clearest picture of quality.
Is Multani blue pottery the same as the blue pottery from other Pakistani cities?
It shares the same Kashi glazing tradition found elsewhere in Punjab and Sindh, but Multan is one of its oldest and most closely associated centres, tied directly to the tile work on the city's own shrines.
How do I pack blue pottery to fly home?
Wrap each piece individually, pad it well, and pack it in the centre of your luggage surrounded by clothing. Small or valuable pieces are safer carried as hand luggage than checked.
