Terracotta: Continuity & Change

There are said to be over one million potters in India, producing a profusion of clay objects - using traditional techniques, and shaping and decorating the objects according to the social, religious and utilitarian needs of the region(s) and consumer(s). In most regions, men create the clay objects and do the firing while the women are responsible for preparing the clay and for decorating the pots. The most notable exception to this is Manipur, in north-east India, where women potters outnumber the male potters.

Every region has its own folklore and beliefs centred around the use of earth to create objects. The essence, however, remains the same - a potter's livelihood and tools and techniques are gifts from the God and ancestors. It was - and still is - the potter who is the repository of the oral tradition surrounding the trade. The myths have been passed on from one generation to the next, through stories narrated by the elders of the family. Some myths have been lost, several songs and s...