Terracotta, taken from Latin terra cotta or baked earth, is
the art of creating glazed or unglazed porous earthenware,
figurines, and other decorative materials from clay which is
dried and fired in temperatures of around 1000°C giving it a
distinctly orange, red, brown, yellow, or grey color. It is
then covered in sand to allow it to cool down. This color
depends not only on the type of clay found in the beds of the
water bodies in the area where the artist is based but also on
the firing process. For example, if the smoke from firing is
allowed to get out through the vents in the kiln, a red or
orange color is obtained. On the other hand, if the vents are
sealed, it gives the items a black color. Decorative pieces
are either left with their original color or painted in
multiple hues to make them more attractive. Terracotta items,
when not cracked, give a ring when struck lightly with
fingers.
Mythology/History
Harappa Image in Terracotta
Terracotta is an ancient art form, perhaps one of the first
expressions of creativity of human mind. In fact, the use of
the five elements: air, water, earth, fire, and ether in
Terracotta art form lend it both an air of mystery and
auspiciousness as per Hindu beliefs. Terracotta figurines of
mother goddess, male gods, and terracotta cart frames and
wheels dating back to around 7000 BC have been excavated from
various sites of Indus Valley Civilization like Birhana,
Mehrgarh, Mohenjodaro, etc. proving that the art flourished in
the Indian subcontinent long before it was used elsewhere.
Terracotta also had an important role to play in the trade
activities of this ancient civilization. Terracotta
seals were used by merchants for stamping and human or animal
figures carved on them. These seals also depict the apparels,
hair styles, ornaments, as well religious beliefs of the
people, apart from giving an idea of the script used by them.
Egyptian Face in Terracotta
In the rest of the world too, terracotta art has been in
existence since thousands of years. In Egypt, Terracotta house
models dating back to around 1900 BC have been excavated.
These models were part of the burials of poor people and
usually were replicas of their dwellings. Mesopotamian
civilization was also rich in arts and crafts and beautiful
terracotta figurines of goddesses and small statues from
around 19th century BC have been found by the archaeologists.
Bell Idols or female statuettes having mobile legs from 8th
century BC Greece is a noteworthy example of Terracotta art in
ancient world. These bell idols were popular in Both Greece
and Rome. Another terracotta wonder from the ancient world is
the Terracotta Army of China from 210 BC, part of an ancient
necropolis, and built by the emperor Qin Shi Huang. The King's
terracotta army consists of 6000 life-size terracotta soldiers
guarding his tomb. The army is complete with soldiers,
archers, horses, and chariots. What's amazing about these
soldiers is that each of them has been made having different
facial features.
Hand Molding versus Mass Production
The ancients used the pressure of their hands to painstakingly
give shape to each terracotta item but with increase in the
type of uses and demand, moulds were made to start mass
production. One of the first examples of mass produced
terracotta figurines is that of ancient Greeks' Tanagra
figurines from later 4th Century BC.
Various Forms of Terracotta Art in India
Terracotta art is an integral part of Indian culture and
heritage. What's more, the art form has not been lost as many
others have; rather it is flourishing and getting richer even
now with artisans uninhibited in their imagination and
creativity. Though the art of creating glazed pottery has been
in existence for thousands of years in India, the unglazed
pottery items are the ones India is world renowned for.
Terracotta items are commonplace in Indian homes in one form
or other, and artisans have kept the art alive from one
generation to other. Today, India exports exquisite terracotta
items like statues, vases, decorative hangings and bells,
murals, Diwali oil lamps, etc. making the art form a rewarding
one for the artisans. Though it would be impossible to find an
Indian village without potters and other artisans, some states
and cities are well known for their distinct Terracotta ware.
What makes the end result unique from region to region is the
difference in clay type and color as well as the sensibilities
of the artist, not to mention the varied culture, religious
practices, and traditions. Let's take a look at some of them:
West Bengal
Terracotta Horse from
Bankura in West Bengal
West Bengal has a rich tradition of art and craft and
terracotta is one of them. In fact, rural areas of the state
are a treasure trove of finely crafted terracotta pots,
figurines including those of handsome horses and other items,
small and large, practical as well as decorative. Some of the
well known towns for Terracotta art form are Murshidabad,
Jessore, Birbhaum, Digha, and Hooghly. The art form came to
this state in the 16th century with the influence of
Vaishnavite movement which found expression in Terracotta
sculpting on Krishna temples built by them. People of West
Bengal also worship the snake goddess Manasa by creating a
shrine constructed with tree branches, terracotta snakes and
pots.
Terracotta artisans of West Bengal use a mix of two or more
types of clay taken from river beds and pits and their
patterns are usually traditional or community-related. The
fuel used for firing is firewood, dry leaves, and twigs which
are available locally. The molded items are baked in
traditional kilns at temperatures of 700°-800°C. Both men and
women participate in the process with the women responsible
for working the wheel and giving the upper part of the pots or
the necks a round shape. Other items like dolls,
figures, jewelry, wind chimes, and toys are cast in burnt clay
moulds.
Bihar
Terracotta art in Bihar goes back to the Mauryan period
(2nd-3rd cebtury BCE). Horses are a recurrent theme in Indian
terracotta across states and Bihar is no exception. Darbhanga
in Bihar is well known for its terracotta horses that are
painted in bright rainbow colors on completion. Other items
include clay elephants that are placed on roof tops to signify
marriage in the house.
Gujarat
Terracotta artisans from Gujarat, especially from Gundiyali in
Bhuj district, use the potter's wheel to create exquisite
hand-painted clay pots with geometrical patterns almost
identical to the ones excavated from the sites of Indus Valley
civilization. Other terracotta items popular in the state
include the votive figures of animals like horses, cow,
elephants, tigers, bulls, buffalos, and even insects which are
placed in shrines by devotees. The state is also well-known
for Dhabus, dome-shaped abodes for the spirits of the
departed.
Madhya Pradesh
This central Indian state has a rich tradition of creating
terracotta figures for rituals as well as for day to day uses.
Life-like figurines of Hindu deities, human forms, birds,
horses, snakes and huge elephants are some of the more popular
ones created by the artists.
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu, the temple state of India and one steeped in
thousands of years of history and rich cultural heritage is
known for making large terracotta horses. In fact, villages of
the state follow a tradition of having a huge terracotta horse
figure guarding its entrance. This horse is a companion of
Aiyyanar, the Tamil Village God. His colorful statues
are also flanked by large white horses and elephants or the
lord is depicted riding on them. These statues are prepared by
mixing sand and straw to clay to get a certain consistency and
wood pieces covered in clay are used for legs. The rest of the
ceramic pieces including the head and the accessories are
separately created and joined on an auspicious day and fired
in a straw and cow dung kiln covered with mud. Nowadays moulds
have come to be used for creating these horses given their
popularity.
Apart from Aiyyanar and his companions, shrines of other
village gods and goddesses are also represented by terracotta
statues. These include the Naga or Serpent shrine,
Ganesha idols, etc. Apart from religious figurines, daily use
items like water pots, cooking pots, grain storage containers,
etc. are also made using Terracotta. As per legends, the
potters of Tamilnadu, also known as kuyavar or velar, trace
their origin to the heavenly master craftsman Vishwakarma.
Haryana
Terracotta Musical Instruments
Decoration Pieces
This state has a tradition of clay and terracotta art dating
back millennia to Pre Harappan and Harappan culture. People
used the skill to create a wide range of items including toys,
figurines, jewelry, toy cart frames, etc. Around 1000 B.C.,
painted grey ware (PGW) with black designs began to be made as
is evident from excavations at the various sites around the
state including Kurukshetra. These are usually associated with
the Mahabharata period. Sugh in Haryana is another important
Terracotta center with figurines of mother goddess, animal and
bird figurines and Yaksha statues having been found at many
sites.
Today, the terracotta artists from the state create products
such as two toned or colorfully painted vases, pots, lamps,
toys, human and animal figurines, wall hangings, and musical
instruments among others. Beautiful terracotta jewelry
including neck and ear pieces is a specialty of the state.
Rajasthan
Like Haryana, Rajasthan also has an age old tradition of
terracotta art and the state is well known for its various
distinctive terracotta articles. The arid state also has a
special connection with clay and terracotta as people in
villages carry water from distant sources to their homes in
terracotta pots. Moreover, their daily worship is connected to
terracotta idols of deities.
Alwar in Rajasthan is famous for making paper-thin
light-weight pottery, also known as Kagzi while Pokharan is
known for red and white terracotta articles with incised
geometrical patterns. Terracotta horse figures, Ganesha idols,
as well as idols of local deities like Nag Dev or the serpent
god, Bhairav, and other heroes made in Molela are popular in
the state. Bikaner district is famous for colorful pottery
items painted with lac colors. Terracotta toys and animal
figurines are sold in village haats or markets as well as in
fairs. The art of making these toys is a legacy from the
ancient Kalibangan site of Indus Valley civilization in
Rajasthan.
The clay used by artists comes from local ponds. Coarse clay
is used for plaques and mixed with donkey dung collected by
women folk in the proportion of 1:3 making the clay suitable
for molding.
Himachal Pradesh
This northern Indian hilly state has terracotta artists that
have their origins in Rajasthan, Punjab and Kashmir. Most of
the terracotta artists here are settled in towns of Kangra,
Chamba, Mandi, Kulu, and the state capital Shimla. Tracing
their lineage to Lord Vishwakarma, these artists are well
known for their red and black pottery which is etched with
circular or linear patterns before firing and painted black
and white.
Odisha
Terracotta art in Odisha goes back to 4th century BC and the
tribal artisans create unique designs using special clay which
has many takers both within the country and abroad. Animal
figurines of bulls, horses and elephants are exquisitely
molded and highlighted and left in their original clay color.
Others household items like jars, tea cups, plates, roof
tiles, pots, toys, pots, candle stands, etc. are also made
with the unique tribal touch. Jewelry like bangles and
necklace sets are also popular items.
The tools used by the artists include the potter's wheel, a
wooden stick to rotate the wheel, a hollow cylindrical tube, a
hammer, and a wooden slab to beat the clay. The clay is mixed
with ash and sand before being molded in desired shapes.
Jammu and Kashmir
In this northern most state, terracotta art has two
distinctive forms. While one, made in Ladakh, consists of
icons, statues, and images related to Buddhism and made mainly
to cater to the various monasteries, the other consists of tea
kettles, barley wine pots, kitchen stoves, oil lamps, etc.
These items are finely molded and brightly colored and used
for practical purposes as well as home decor. The kettles
especially are beautifully crafted with its spout, handle, lid
as well as brazier. Tools used for creating them are simple,
made of leather, stone, and wood. Another unique item is clay
mask which is made using cloth, waste paper, flour, and glue.
Architectural Terracotta
Use of terracotta to supplement brick and tiles buildings
became quite popular in late 1800s England and the US. The
Victorian Bell Edison Telephone building is a fine example of
terracotta architecture in Birmingham, England. The Natural
History Museum in London also has a huge and highly ornate
terracotta façade. Before this, it was also used in Germany in
1820s in the construction of churches. However, in
India, the trend of using cheap and readily available clay for
building temples started a few centuries earlier. The 6th
century Bhitargaon (Uttar Pradesh, India) Hindu temple, built
during the reign of Gupta Dynasty, has beautiful terracotta
panels that depict Shiva, Vishnu and aquatic monsters. Other,
more famous, example of terracotta use in Indian architecture
is the terracotta temples in Bishnupur, Bankura (West Bengal).
Terracotta Temples of Bishnupur, West Bengal
Terracotta Temple - Vishnupur,
West Bengal, India
From being used for daily use and home décor items, terracotta
came to be used for making temples in 15th - 16th century AD.
The popularity of this building material lay in its universal
and abundant availability across regions. Once people learned
to bake the clay, they had a way of giving permanence to the
items created by them. Slowly, terracotta art was put to more
ambitious uses of creating accommodation and other buildings
sometimes replacing stone or stone and wood carving due to
their non-availability.
Though there are many temples in West Bengal along the
alluvial delta of the river Ganges, terracotta temples of
Bishnupura in Bankura district are the most popular due to
their exceptional terracotta carving and sculptures. As
mentioned before, Vaishnava movement played a great role in
influencing terracotta art in the state and the Malla kings of
Bishnupura, devout Vaishnavites, invited scores of higher
caste Hindu gentry as well as skilled potters, weavers, masons
and master craftsmen for constructing the temples to
perfection.
A scarcity of stone in the region led to the use of bricks for
creating the temples which were then covered with ornate
terracotta tiles that depict themes taken from Puranas, and
the Ramayana and Mahabharata epics apart from those related to
everyday life. The temples are a fine example of a marriage
between traditional arts based on the Shilpa Shastras and the
imagination and expertise of the artists of the time.
Terracotta: a Hugely Popular Art Form
Terracotta art is not just popular in India and the world from
a consumer point of view; rather it is fast coming to homes as
a hobby that boosts creativity, patience and focus. Today,
there are many institutes that teach pottery and terracotta
home décor items to people from all age groups. Portable kits
for creating clay pots are available for children.
Creating Magic with Hands
Creating beauty with a lump of clay, a wheel, a kiln, and the
pressure and dexterity of the artisan's hands is what
terracotta art is all about. The artisans, often uneducated
and leading a simple life, nonetheless create magic which
entices locals and tourists alike. From the humble pot used to
store water and keep it cool in summers and the small Diyas or
votives to the most elaborately crafted door panels, temple
facades, and statues of Gods and Goddesses, a terracotta
artisan's vision and creativity knows no bounds.
Clay and Terracotta Art of India: A Few Interesting Facts
- Terracotta art has existed in India for around 10,000
years, the oldest excavations of terracotta items being
from Birhana (Haryana) site which is a pre-Harrappan site
of Indus Valley Civilization.
- Tamil villagers have built huge hollow terracotta horses
with elaborate embellishments which are probably the
world's largest hollow clay figures.
- The world famous Blue Pottery of Jaipur and the Delhi
Blue Pottery uses no clay! It is made by using an Egyptian
paste made of quartz powder, powdered glass, Fuller's
Earth (multani mitti), borax, gum, and water.