Terracotta has its origins in India particularly in West Bengal, Rajasthan and Gujarat. Since early times, it has been used in pottery, designing sculptures and also for constructing homes. The art of making and wearing terracotta jewellery dates back to ancient civilisations, specifically the Indus Valley Civilisation. In fact, terracotta is considered the oldest form of jewellery in the world. Elegant jewels can be carved out of this hard red earthenware, which makes for exotic dressing style. Up your style a notch higher, with the clay-made danglers, chokers, necklaces and bracelets which is an amalgamation of tradition and contemporary styles.
Madhuri Dommety, a terracotta jewellery maker from the city, has mastered the earthy art. Based in Vijayaramarajupeta (Chodavaram), she comes all the way to the city to deliver her creations personally. She is a content homemaker with a skill that she puts to good use. She quit her well paying job post marriage, due to family restrictions and that is when the idea of jewellery making came up. “It all started when I sorted out my creativity”, she quips. She started experimenting with this ancient art from the web and with a bit of tweaking; she mastered it and took it up as her career.
“Creating terracotta jewellery started off as a hobby and I want this trend to reach places by creating awareness about the importance of handmade eco-friendly products”.
Madhuri adds, “Back then, when I started there were few takers, but today the scene is different. I even customise baubles as some clients ask for jewellery to match their outfits.” She also creates beautiful figurines of deities and showpieces. Juggling her household chores and designing, she laments that she gets very limited time to create these handmade wonders.
Quiz her about the process that goes into making the jewellery; and she replies, “I first mould the clay into the desired shape and size, then I allow it to dry naturally before firing them, at temperatures between 550 and 900 degree centigrade followed by painting them” How about durability? “Terracotta is breakable, so one has to be a bit careful”, Madhuri cautions.
She dreams to expand her business to create awareness among people in the city, where she even plans to tie up with non-profit organisations for eco-friendly jewellery boxes to pack her beautiful creations. “I’m planning to venture into terracotta art work”, says Madhuri, signing off. We wish her the best for her eco-friendly endeavours and hope to see more creations from her soon.
Price range: Rs. 50 (Small ear studs) – Rs. 2000 (Heavy jewellery)
Log on to Facebook and forget not to like her creations on the page titled ‘Srujana Terracotta Jewellery’.
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