Zahra Pottery (zah-ruh)

The desert town of Zahrabad is limited economically, but its main export and the good that it has become known for across the world is its pottery. The pottery is fired in a state-of-the-art kiln unlike any other in the world, which combined with the specific makeup of the area's soil creates pottery that is durable and difficult to break. The kiln in question is raised several feet above the ground, on a stone base, to elevate it above the buildings and trees, letting it get as much direct sun exposure as possible. It is also surrounded by an array of mirrors that redirect sunlight toward the central oven chamber, making it even hotter.
The production of zahra pottery is heavily controlled within the town of Zahrabad, and the Potters' Guild go to great lengths to ensure all its registered members are using approved ingredients and methods. In return, they place the official guild stamp on all outgoing pieces of pottery, marking it for durability and quality that merchants and consumers across the world have come to know.
The pottery itself ranges from basic functional pieces sought after by the merchants and middle class as sturdy heirlooms, to ornate and extravagant artistic centerpieces only the rich and well-connected can get their hands on. The potters responsible for these ornate pieces live a slightly elevated lifestyle within Zahrabad, though nowhere near that of their aristocratic clientele. Smaller shops and beginning workers make it their life's goal to be accepted into the guild and earn the somewhat elusive stamp that can elevate the demand for their pieces to unthinkable heights.

One of the interesting aspects of guild-approved pieces and the official process is that the individual artist or potter is not allowed to sign or have any specific signature on the piece. The guild acts as a middleman to sell most pieces to merchants, and they want everything to seemingly come from the central provider of the guild. This makes collecting the expensive pieces a bit more challenging, as collectors and appraisers have to look for things like specific pigment usage, paint style, or unique shapes to determine which pieces come from the highly coveted artists.

Distribution

Trade & Market

Zahra pottery is of a much higher quality than other ceramic dishes, and is thus harder to come by. Even the simplest plates go for double what "normal" pottery would cost, as the guild seal denotes exceptional quality and longevity. Less well-off families will sometimes save for months or years to afford a set of zahra dishes, to be used as family heirlooms to pass down - much like real world people pass down family china - or as appreciating assets to be sold off in times of exceptional struggle. Because Zahrabad is relatively small and their pottery output is limited by their population and number of skilled workers, zahra pottery is not found everywhere. In fact, outside of a few pieces that find their way to traveling merchants, most zahra pottery pieces are found exclusively in large cities.

Type

Ceramic