Terracotta Icons


Terracotta objects offer a unique insight into Dravidian culture. Unlike stone or bronze, which were commissioned by wealthy patrons, terracotta was inexpensive and perishable. Made from clay, which was easily fashioned and freely available, these objects document their changing social context.

The objects displayed here illustrate three important uses of terracotta

images from religious cults, which are among the best records of popular Indian religion from the earliest period.

modelled bricks, ranging in date from the fifth to the eighteenth centuries AD, which testify to the popularity of brick and timber architecture throughout Indian history.

terracotta icons, such as votive plaques, which served as vehicles for disseminating religious ideas





















The correct age of these terracotta votive plaques are yet to be determined!



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