Stone terracota, a new attraction

Constructing a beautiful house is still a distant dream for many, and those who are blessed with this do not really mind spending hours together in selecting the best artefacts.

Though interior decoration itself is an art, a house is still left incomplete without a terracota artefact.

Such is the beauty and elegance of Terracota and an expert artisan from New Delhi, Bhuvanesh Prasad has displayed his artefacts at Gandhi Shilp Bazaar, which is being organised for the fourth time at JSS Urban Haat by Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), Ministry of Textiles, New Delhi.

An expert in making stone terracota pottery, Bhuvanesh has one of the precious artefacts, a pot priced at Rs One lakh displayed at his stall. Speaking to City Herald, Bhuvanesh said that though terracota artefacts look similar, the stone terracota is more durable.

Learning the nuances of the art from his father when he was thirteen years old, Bhuvanesh said his father Sri Giriraj Prasad has been presented with Shilp Guru award, the highest award ever presented to the artisan. Bhuvanesh too has been conferred with the National award in 2002, and recalls the proud moment when he received the award from noneother than the former president Dr A P J Abdul Kalam.

The dexterity of Bhuvanesh’s fingers transforming a small amount of clay into a beautiful product is a perfect visual treat as the same clay attains several forms only an expert can perform.

Speaking on the quality of the clay, Bhuvanesh says they use three types of clay red, black and brown which is mixed with stone powder to attain the required form.

He recalls one of his product, a four piece terracota lamp which is installed at the memorial of late former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi and is lit even till date.

His other products include a tall pot — 57 inches diameter and 46 inches height, took 28 months to complete with three artisans involved in the making. The pot is covered with the bronze wire mesh and has glass fibre as finishing inside the pot and is approximately Rs four lakh, which he has planned to display at their exclusive showroom in New Delhi.

Another wide pot named ‘Chakri Chandi’ with a diametre of 43 inches and with a height of only 13 inches is also a rare piece, and is definitely not for sale, he adds.

This young artisan has also given a lot of demonstrations in India and also in foreign countries. Beautiful terracota tulsi brindavans, a variety of clay products, Ganeshas, tortoises and others are displayed here for the art lovers to add to their collections.