Clay Toys

Clay toys are the most ancient craft and it has been quite well preserved in India. At one point the craft even had a Royal Patronage. Clay toy makers in India usually follow two separate schools. One is terracotta school in which the figurines are burnt to get hardness and enhanced life. The second school does not involve the burning and is more prevalent in Kumartulli and Krishnanagar in West Bengal. Rajasthan is also known for the toys of unbaked clay. Kondapalli in Andhra Pradesh makes some of the traditional Dolls and toys out of a mixture of cowdung, sawdust and clay and covers them with lustrous pigments.

Clay toys are fragile but at the same time they are very beautiful. The clay toys are usually the figures of Gods and Goddesses, animal and bird figures, mythological characters, carts and other figures of rural day to day life. The terracotta toys of the eastern and southern belt of India are very finely crafted with all major details. Where as at other places the details are highlighted with colors.

In Bihar, Bengal and Gujarat, clay figures of Gods and Goddesses are made. Gujarat is also famous for animal and bird figures. Tamilnadu is famous for the terracotta figures of the Aiyanar Deity. Uttar Pradesh is famous for animal figures. Moela in Rajasthanis famous for its unique The relief- work baked and painted in bright colors.

These clay toys are excellent decoratives for the gardens and the living rooms. They can be placed on the center tables or the mantels. Some can even be hung on the walls. The larger ones can also be use as lobby or lounge decoratives.

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