TERRACOTTA POTTERY IN INDIA
HISTORY & ORIGINS
Pottery in the Indian Subcontinent Pottery in the Indian subcontinent has an ancient history and is one of the most tangible and iconic elements of Indian art. In fact, being an agricultural country, pots (matki) for storage of water and grains were in demand. The real beginning of Indian pottery began with the Indus Valley Civilization and the art of shaping and baking clay articles as pottery, earthenware and porcelain has continued through the ages. While pottery and earthenware are definitely utilitarian and often decorative, porcelain and studio pottery belong to the sphere of art. Today, it is a cultural art that is still practiced extensively in the Indian subcontinent. Until recent times all Indian pottery has been earthenware, including terracotta.
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