What is Terracotta?
Terracotta means “baked earth” and is made from natural clay. It is waterproof and sturdy.
Bishnupur, Murshidabad, Birbhum, and Hooghly are superior examples of terracotta creativity.
The Making Of Terracotta Pottery
The making of Terracotta pottery is no ordinary process. Each Terracotta pot or piece of art is created by a fascinating process with grace and dedication and the time taken to make such a masterpiece is what makes Terracotta so valuable and expensive.
Terracotta is the type of clay used to produce Terracotta pottery on a potter’s wheel.
1- The Potter at full tilt rotates the wheel with his hands and gives the ball of clay a shape.
2- The pot of object, after being left to dry is kept on top of combustible material in a pit and fired.
3- Mostly charcoal, wood or coconut shells are used for firing and the temperature is 600 to 1200 degrees Celsius.
4- The process is completed only after the poetry has been backed for more than 2 hours to ensure it is hard strong and durable.
Glazed and Unglazed
The glazed pots are easy to clean and food get cooked evenly in them. However, numerous benefits are lost, like ok bye the maintenance of the acid-alkaline balance as well as the earthly flavour that and glazed Terracotta at to the food.
Terracotta vs Handmade Clay
Firstly, clay pots are of various colours like red, blue, green, white or black. Terracotta vessels and ports are in orangish- brown or reddish.
Secondly, Terracotta emit a sharp metallic and can gauge the compactness of particles.
Thirdly, most clay products are ceramics, Terracotta ceramics are mostly unglazed, especially the ones used for garden décor.
Lastly, Terracotta pots are baked at a higher temperature than clay pots and that is why it gives them their reddish colour.
Various Forms of Terracotta Art In India
Madhya Pradesh- The Jhabua and Bastra tribes of Madhya Pradesh are known for their tradition of making terracotta pottery. They create clay temples called dhabhas, which have a small door wherein the deity is placed along with the fire lamp.
Gujarat- Known for its spectacular hand-painted clay products such as beautiful clay animals and home decor items using the potter’s wheel to perfection, painted with catchy colours and geometric patterns.
Haryana- Famous for its clay hukkas and pipes. Exquisite wall hangings, flower vases, cups, lamps, water pots and intriguing animal figures are other creations from this state.
Tamil Nadu- The Aiyanar community is known for its giant realistic figures of horses and elephants.
Present Day Scenario
The art of terracotta is slowly dwindling, due to the increasing competition posed by contemporary jewellery in modern times. Also, the erosion of culture has resulted in the shrinking market for terracotta ware.
Fun Fact
A big terracotta statue of the mother goddess is the most prominent discovery from Mohenjo Daro during Sindhu Saraswati Civilization. This depicts that this art has never perished, instead has always grown in popularity with time.
Another Reason To Buy These Products
Terracotta might appear to be a simple form of art, but it is a labor-intensive technique. By buying this product, you’re not only contributing back to the Indian economy, but also helping Indian artists who toil day and night to nourish and feed their families.
Explore the wide variety of handmade products:
India has a special kind of connection with its artisans and the colorful culture found in the nook and corners of this land. Local art like basket weaving, temple paintings, terracotta vessels is just parts of our heritage hidden away.
We bring you the history, the forgotten legacies, through authentic art, right from their birthplaces, to you.
Clio’s Heritage Store is a store with a story. Every product comes with a tale of its very own. We promote various local artisans from every corner of India, while also upholding the legacy that our country holds. When you buy from us, you help keep alive the dreams of hundreds of handicraftsmen, you help contribute in the cause of keeping our ancestry alive. You help the cottage industries and the small businesses and mostly you keep our heritage alive.
So come, be a part of this journey of knowing history through the art of our country.
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