Terracotta craft is very much a part of the
Rajasthani tradition. The common terracotta product is unsophisticated
in that it is free of eccentricity and artifice. The shapes
are organic, simple but attractive and true to the material.
Nearly every village has a potter, producing pitchers to store
water, toys for children, vessels for the kitchen, figures
of divinities etc.
In Rajasthan, village of Molera, 40 kilometres
north of Udaipur is one area where the production of terracotta
icons remains powerfully alive. The Molela artisans make image
of male and female deities in anthropomorphic forms. There
are many folk heroines and heroes immortalized in Rajasthan
produced by the Molela potter.
Alwar is noted for its paper-thin pottery,
known as 'kagzi' pottery. The double walled surface is cut
into different attractive patterns, which help to circulate
the air and keep the water cool. At Pokharan, decoration is
done by etching designs mostly in geometrical patterns on
different items of pottery. The painted pottery of Bikaner
attracts everyone with painting done in lac colours to which
gold shade is added. The other important centres for painted
pottery are Ramgarh, Jaisalmer and Ranthambore.
