Horse clay

Shirish Joshi on the popular terracotta creation from West Bengal.

Bankura horse from Panchmura village in Bankura district in West Bengal, 185 km from Kolkata, can be seen in most handloom and handicraft emporiums in India. Easy to carry, light in weight and available in a wide range to suit every pocket, the Bankura horse is a common sight in many homes as a decoration piece.

He stares at you with etched-out eyes, a long straight giraffe-like neck, and a barrel-shaped body and a disproportionately short tail.

Legend has it that around 800 years back, the local king saw a wild horse on a hunting spree. He began dreaming of the animal and described it to his court terracotta potter, who made one for the king. Its long ears denote intelligence, while its neck is like that of a swan. No one knows why the legs are short. Probably the king saw the horse grazing in tall grass.

In Panchmura village, these can be seen in front of the crude, roadside shrines. They are placed by villagers as offerings, in lieu of the actual horse, to the God. Both Muslims and Hindus use the horse in the course of their religious rituals.

The clay artists residing in the villages of Birbhum, Burdman and Purulia districts of West Bengal also make these horses. For larger horses, the long neck, the body and the legs are made with the help of the potter’s wheel. The smaller horses are made by hand, then joined together and fired in a wood and charcoal kiln. To prevent cracking at the time of firing, holes are made prior to the firing. The detachable tail and ears are made by hand.

The prices vary according to the size and the place of purchase as well. The smallest size 15 to 20 cm may cost about Rs 20, while the largest size, which is 1.5 m, may cost Rs 250-300. These are cheaper if bought directly from the craftsmen.

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