Terracotta Jewellery and Jewelled Objects of Tamil Nadu

In terracotta jewellery, the raw material used is a fairly coarse, porous type of lean clay. This clay is usually sourced from the tank beds and is then dried in the sun, after which it is powdered and put in a tub containing water. This is stirred well and filtered through a sieve. This sieved clay is collected and allowed to settle. After a few days the excess water is decanted and the clay, in a slurry form, is dried in trays. The clay is made into coils or thin slabs and cut into the required sizes and shapes on the river bank before it is ready for marketing.