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Terracotta: The Potter’s Craft
Out of the humble clay came the wonder called ‘man’. Christian, Islamic, Greek, African, and many other mythologies attribute man’s origins to the muck and mire of wet earth. It is no wonder then, that clay would be among the first materials to be transformed by the ingenious hands of man. From the ground came plates, bowels, pots and containers of every shape and size which held food, water, and various goods. Bricks of clay built homes and tiled roofs and pavements.
 ‘Terracotta’ is an Italian term that means ‘baked earth’. It is hard, semifired, waterproof ceramic clay used in pottery and sculptures. The term is also used to refer to items made out of this material and to its natural, brownish orange color. In India, terracotta – the potter’s craft - dates back to antiquity. Excavations of pottery in Mohenjodaro (2500 B.C.) show the existence of potters. The fine artistry in both their design and shapes is praiseworthy. Terracotta can be regarded as the epitome of Indian religious expression conveyed through clay. One can refer to pottery and earthenware as distinctly utilitarian and often decorative while porcelain and studio pottery belongs to the realm of art. Terracotta sculptures in temples were abundant. Proper structural forms were developed such as molded bricks and tiles designed in artistic forms.
The clay is first solidified and wedged to the framed into the desired shape and size, on the potter’s wheel. This is followed by hand - craft for decoration and design like inlay, handle making, etching etc. After drying the product is given finishing by sand paper and sponging and then the initial firing is done at 950°C, followed by glazed firing at 1050°C in the kiln. Meticulous care is taken to retain the natural grace and feel of the products.
The fabled richness of the Bhoomata or Mother Earth, lends the medium such a high degree of adaptability that beauty of form, colors and texture varies across the length and breadth of the country.
West Bengal has perhaps the best tradition of terracotta. Most of these figurines have a ritualistic connotation. The Bankura horse, which is also the logo of the Central Cottage Industries Corporation of India (C.C.I.C) in New Delhi, is famous. Heavily decorated, this horse is made of rich red clay and is offered to the gods and goddesses at religious ceremonies. Some of the best terracottas are seen in Murshidabad, Birbhum, Jessore, Hooghly and Digha. The style is essentially folk and designs are highly expressive.
Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh is famous for its ornately decorated terracotta horse. One would require some knowledge of Indian regional art forms to decipher the finer differences in the horses from West Bengal and Gorakhpur.
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