The potter's craft dates back to antiquity in India, as excavations of pottery in Mohenjodaro (2500 B.C.) show. The artistic work both in the delicate shapes and the fine black and red designs on these articles indicate that they are pieces of excellent craftsmanship.

In the Indian sub-continent, terracotta would perhaps be 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.

Producing Terracotta

The native earthenware shows mature ability. The base for each is the village. The votive offerings are a substitute for sacrifices. There is usually an intriguing symbolism in the size and form of each. For instance while the horse is big, the rider by comparison is small. The explanation is that, the horse has divine essence, whereas the rider is only a human representation.

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.