Gorakhpur Terracotta is a centuries-old traditional art form practiced in Uttar Pradesh, where the potters make various beautiful figures and authentic designs that are used for decoration purposes. Traditionally, what makes it different from other terracotta crafts is that it involves ornamentation, use of natural colours / dyes and experimentation with innovative shapes
The entire work is done with bare hands and they use natural colour, which stays fast for long time. There are more than 1000 varieties of designs of terracotta works crafted by the local craftsmen.
The clay used in the terracotta products is ‘Kabis’ clay which is found in the ponds of Bharwalia and Budhadih village areas. Also, such clay is found only in the months of May and June, as for the rest of the year, the ponds are filled with water.
Image Credit: www.odopup.in
Various types of statues and different type of figure of animals are only made by hand with the use of fingers. Two type of technique are used in developing one product like with the use of manual wheel the portion of leg, stomach, neck, head are made and there after these parts are assembled. After that with the support of hand and fingers, eye, nose, ear, tail and related part are developed according to the figure and fixed for the final product.
First, the earth is screened and grind to remove impurities and to confirm it is acceptably clean and pure. Refined clay is partially dried & cast, moulded or hand worked into desired shape. After drying it thoroughly, it is placed in a kiln & fired. Then the hot ware is covered with sand to cool.
Craftsmen pay special consideration to the degree of heating during the firing. Clay toys are dried in the courtyard. After dried terracotta objects are fired in Anwa, an open kiln, some dry grass and a big broken object are placed in the centre and toys set around it which is called Kunda, then after covered and fired.
The normal Terracotta red color is obtained by letting out the smoke through the vents of the kiln after firing, and the black color is obtained by sealing the vents & not letting out the smoke. Various other Terracotta works like tableware or building decorations in freezing environments require that material be glazed.
Some of the major product of craftsmanship include Hauda elephants, Mahawatdar horse, Deer, Camel, Five-faced Ganesha, singled-faced Ganesha, elephant Table, Musical troupe of humans & Ganesha, camel cart, bullock-cart, horse-cart, camel-lamp, lantern, chandeliers, Hanging bells etc.
GI Tag Registration Date : 20 April 2020
GI Tag Number : 619
Certificate Number : 365
Geographical Area : Uttar Pradesh
Special Cover Release Date : 29 September 2021
Cancellation : Gorakhpur 273 001
Type : GI Tag - ODOP Cover
Cover Identification Number : UP/51/2021
This cover is primarily issued as part of promotion for UP State One District One Product initiative. However it is also a GI Tagged Product with GI Tag details on back side of the cover.
Enlarged View of Cancellation
Back Side Scan
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