Terracotta is derived from the Latin word for "baked earth". The craft involves creating glazed or unglazed porous earthenware and other decorative items from clay. The clay is dried and fired at temperatures around 1000°C, giving it distinct colours. Historically, the craft dates back to 7000 BCE. Figures of deities have been found at the sites of the Indus Valley Civilization like Birhana, Mehrgarh, and Mohenjodaro. Today, India exports exquisite terracotta items like statues, vases, decorations, murals, and more.

In Delhi, migrant potters from Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh have formed a community known as "Kumbhar Basti" in the Govindpuri and Hauz Rani areas. Here, they produce a variety of earthen objects from a special kind of light red clay. The rural areas of West Bengal, Alwar and Pokharan in Rajasthan, Edka in Bastar, Chhattisgarh are also well-known for their terracotta craftsmanship. Traditional terracotta items were painstakingly shaped by hand, but as demand and usage increased, artists started using moulds for mass production.

The process involves different stages. It includes clay refining to remove impurities, lumps and stones, mixing the clay, throwing it on the wheel, drying and firing.

The Bankura terracotta horse, made by the Kumbhokars (potters) from Panchmura village in West Bengal, is an emblem of Indian handmade traditions. It appears in some of the important logos that stand for India’s crafts and cultural economy and is a priceless heirloom to add for home décor.

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