Clay Preparation

Design Resource

Terracotta Idols - Vellore

The Black Clay Craft

Prof. Bibhudutta Baral, Shruti K.andVijay G.

Clay Preparation

The clay used for pottery is usually found on the riverbed. The clay found here is black in color, which is why Vellore pottery is famous as Black Pottery. The dough clay is the mixture 1:3 quantity of mud and clay. One fourth of mud and three fourth of clay is filtered to separate out stones, mud lumps and other impurities. The filtered mud and clay is put together and water is sprinkled on it. The soaked clay and mud is put in a mixing machine where the mud and clay is finely mashed into a soft mixture of clay used for pottery. The machine is brought from Chennai. The process is continued three times to enhance the elasticity of the clay. The prepared dough is covered and stored to retain the moisture. The clay is now ready for idol and pottery making.

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Terracotta Idols - Vellore