Rishton: the blue-glazed pottery of the Fergana Valley

Rishton, in Uzbekistan's Fergana region, between Kokand and Fergana, is described as one of the oldest centres of ceramics in the country. A reddish-yellow clay lies under most of the area and can be used without refining or mixing, according to a reference summary.

The blue glaze called ishkor is made from natural mineral pigments and the ash of mountain plants. A mosque in the town, Khoja Ilgor, was built in 1905 by two craftsmen, Eshonkhon and Noribai, still functions as a mosque, and is on Uzbekistan's list of nationally significant heritage sites.

We could not verify names of living master potters or details of visiting workshops from the sources we read. For travellers: arrange visits through a local guide, ask to see the glazing and firing, and buy directly from the workshop.