Friday, February 10, 2017
Terracotta Pottery
The art of pottery has been around since the Neolithic age where coarse handmade pottery has been found. Various excavations at Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa have unearthed several terracotta items in the form of various figures and figurines. In a number of states in India, the terracotta figures have a lot of prominence. The impressive Ayanaar horse from Tamil Nadu represents the largest terracotta sculpture ever made and is constructed from coiling and beating, the same techniques used for making vessels. In the present day, the use of clay pots has come back into existence for various culinary purposes, thus expanding the range of products made with terracotta.
Mr. Shanmugam, the owner of Prasanna Terracotta owns two units in Papanchavadi, Pondicherry. He Learned the craft from his father and forefathers and today his entire family practises the craft along with him. Their units are located at a distance of 500m from each other. The first unit is a normal plot of 1200 sq ft. This is where the normal products are made. The second unit is in an open space where the larger products are made and all the goods are fired. Their kiln is located behind the storage room. The front open space is also used to create a kiln for firing their products.
Materials and Tools:
The materials used for this craft are terracotta clay, which is a mixture of three different types of clay, the kaliman, semman (red soil) and pal clay( white clay). Their clay is imported in from Neyveli, Virydachalam, Pattampakkam and Nandikuppam. The three different clays are then mixed together in a clay mixing machine which spits out the terracotta clay. This clay is then rolled into normal balls for making even-sized products. Their other machines include a potter’s wheel which runs on electricity on which they make products like the cup and pots and they have a mould making machine which presses semi-dry clay into a hollow bell shape for the lamp. The artisans then make designs on the lamp by hand using a design knife.
The tools used for the process of making the products are different types of sivarai used for shaping the products, a needle for intricate designs, a design knife to carve out hollows and trimming tools to remove the product from the wheel. They use a wet cloth for smoothening and finishing the product.
Techniques:
Majority of the products made here are made on the potter’s wheel. There is an electric wheel which is normal in size and is used to make the normaler products. They also have the large wheel which has to be turned manually to make larger pots and items. Products on the potter’s wheel are made using hand , applying pressure and giving shape to the clay.Some bell shaped lamps are made by pressing normal portions of clay in a press and then carving out details.
The craft is done throughout the year. Though the craft still thrives, the income from the craft is very meager. Terracotta products are eco friendly and not harmful to the environment. This craft has existed for a very long time and it should not be allowed to die out.
Contact
N. Shanmugam
Prasanna Handicrafts
Location: No. 7, Thiruvalluvar Nagar, Papanchavadi, Pondicherry.
Ph: +91 94439 58913 / +91 99439 58913 / +91 97870 94953
How to get there: A 20 min drive from Pondicherry.
Documented by Jayashree Swaminathan
Documented by Jayashree Swaminathan
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment