AN ANCIENT CRAFT- TERRACOTTA

The Terracotta Tradition Is One Of The Earliest Forms Of Art And Craft Unearthed By Mankind. The Terracotta Tradition In Rajasthan Has Been Around Since The Days Of The Indus Valley Civilization. The Rajasthani Terracotta Art Boasts Of Its Unique Character And Style. The Art Is Traditional To The Village Of Molela In The Rajsamand District, That Has Been Witnesses To The Beautiful Craft Since Ancient Time.

The Art Is Associated With Making Idols Of Local Gods And Goddesses Like Dharamraj Ji And Dev Narayan Ji. Many Temples In Southern Part And Also In Madhya Pradesh Restore The Idols Each Year And Tour Molela For The Terracotta Figurines That Are Created Here. The Tradition Is Memorialized Like A Festival And Is Followed By Almost All The Tribes In The Area. Usually, The Original Terracotta Designs Have Detailed Mythological Stories Depicting Ramayana And Mahabharata.

The Unique Feature About The Indian Handicraft Is That, They Are Hollow Giving Rise To Lightweight Pieces Of Art. This Technique Prevents Formation Of Cracks And Also Uses Less Amount Of Clay. The Art Of Terracotta Is Appreciated Throughout The World And Every Year Thousands Of Pieces Of This Beautiful Art Work Are Exported To Foreign Countries.

History

The Terracotta Tradition Is As Old As 1500 Or 1700 Years Old. In The Olden Times, Almost Every Village Had Potters That Specialized In This Art. The Craft Was Originally Introduced Through Persia After Chengiz Khan Occupied China In During 1212 A.D.

The Art Of Terracotta Has Developed Over The Years But Has Still Maintained Its Vogue And Importance. In Villages, And Even Where Traditional Cooking Is Involved, Terracotta Pots Are Still Used For Making Delicious Food. For Ages, Terracotta Has Been Used For Making Decorative Pieces And Idols Of Gods And Goddess. Even Till The Present Day, The Income Of The Potters In The Village Of Molela Depends.

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 Making Varnish Pottery Has Been In Exant 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. 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.

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.

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.