Terracotta of Delhi
History
Clay craft is probably the earliest of mans creations and marks his coming of age. It is as though as man faced nature he was stirred by its challenge. Moulded out of the earth himself he wanted to extend the boundaries of his material existence to give expression to his creative spirit. So he took the earth in his hands and began to fashion a whole new world of infinite shapes of grace and elegance.
Techniques Used
Black, red and yellow clay are used for making terracotta items, which are collected in the form of small pieces from Rajasthan and Delhi. The material is mixed properly and dried under the hot sun so that any sort of moisture, if present, may evaporate. Then the mixture of wet clay is filtered through a fine sieve to remove pebble. After giving shape with hands the items are then baked in the improvisede kilns covered with cow dung cakes, fuel and saw dust etc.
Design & Styles
Terracotta pottery has been called the lyric of handicrafts because of its irresistible appeal. A variety of earthen objects are created such as lamps, pitchers, flower vases, pots, musical instruments, candle stands etc.
Common Materials Used
Red clay, black clay, pilli mitti, yellow clay
Popular Products
Lamps, pitchers, flower vases, pots, musical instruments, toys, human & animal figures, plaques, medallions, wall panels and candle stands.
