Terracotta is an Italian word meaning ‘cooked
earth.’ Practical household kitchenware was made from this earthy material
and it was also used to make exquisite terracotta jewelry.
I couldn’t find much
details on this kind of jewelry except a very brief history. Terracotta jewelry
is one of the oldest types of jewelry in the world, primarily from India and
Bangladesh. India, since times unknown has always been associated with
terracotta based arts and crafts. Various antiquities made of terracotta have
been unearthed from archeological excavation sites; prominently figures of
deities worshipped in those times.
Terracotta art has been
flourishing since the Indus Valley civilization in India and its neighboring
regions. The history of terracotta dates back to the Harappa and Mohenjodaro
civilizations in India. The terracotta figurines that were unearthed were
recorded having elaborate artistic jewelry. Archaeologists found a variety of
ornaments, such earrings, ear studs, necklaces, pendants, and bracelets
primarily with designs inspired by nature, animals, leaves, and flowers.
Although
the terracotta industry was developed to its fullest in West Bengal, the art of
making terracotta jewelry became famous in cities of Tamil Nadu such as
Chennai, Madurai, Trichy, and Coimbatore.
As for the processing of this
product…Terracotta is a hard red earthenware. The process of manufacturing
involves purifying the clay, then shaping and designing the wet slab. It
is then dried by exposure to the sun. Next, the clay pieces are completely
burned in a fire kiln so the clay develops a stone-like consistency. During the
process of firing, the clay will take on either a natural brick color or shades
of pink, grey, or white, depending on the quality of the clay. If the clay is
burned along with sawdust, it will turn a natural black. These shaped and burnt
clay pieces are then painted by hand with bright colors to complement
traditional as well as modern outfits.
For this project I roped in
some enthusiastic friends and we decided to make our own terracotta jewelry. I
spent considerable amount of time beforehand looking at and learning from
plenty of Youtube videos on how to make this terracotta jewelry. For
inspiration and ideas, we each searched and saved some images we liked. We
assembled on a cold winter day in comfy clothes, cranked up the heater and
began. This was not a single day project; it took 3-4 hours to roll out the
terracotta beads and make the pendants. After the pieces had dried (that took
almost two days, maybe because of the wet cold weather), we met on another day
to paint and string the jewelry complete. I chose air drying terracotta clay to
avoid having to bake the pieces. It was a preciously different experience…spending
time with friends, involving them in my project, talking and sharing,
heart-felt conversations, some good potluck food, and of course these completed
pieces as mementos.
Although I personally am a
big believer in words, I will lean on the famous adage ‘a picture is worth a
thousand words’ because in arts and crafts, the pictures do bring visual understanding and significant impact.
So I will let you read about this project of mine via plenty of these following pictures.
Guess which one I made? (hint: I made two)
And after a couple rounds of spray glossy sealant...
Guess which one I made? (hint: I made two)
And after a couple rounds of spray glossy sealant...
 |
| this one is mine |
 |
| And this one is mine |
As you can see these pieces
offer vast variety in their look; they can be carved, embedded with stones and
gems, embossed with patterns and shapes, can be elaborate or simple, painted, and finished with different glazes
and sheens. Organic terracotta jewelry can be designed as traditional or contemporary
as we like. Terracotta jewelry, a proud heritage from ancient India offers a
rustic and earthen appeal, this visually eye-catching experience offers an aesthetic
and functional alternative to other jewelry.
