Craft Name: Molela Terracotta
Region: Molela village, Rajasthan
CRAFT
HISTORY
Where it comes from: Molela Terracotta is an ancient Indian sculptural craft rooted in traditions that date back to the Pre-Harappan and Harappan periods. While terracotta has existed across India for millennia, Molela developed a distinctive style of flat relief plaques, differing from typical three-dimensional idols. Practised primarily by the Kumhar community, the craft is considered divinely inspired.
WHAT MAKES IT UNIQUE:
- Alluvial clay
- Donkey dung, wheat husk, straw
- Mineral pigments
- Lac, resin, or varnish
Received a
GI tag in 2023
COLOURS
- Terracotta red base
- Geru reds, greens, yellows, whites, and blacks in flat, bold colour blocks
How much time does it take to make a product, and how many artisans are involved in the process?
Depending on size and intricacy, Molela plaques typically take 3–7 days involving 1–3 artisans.
MOTIFS
- Hindu deities, Folk deities, Scenes from rural life, etc
RAW MATERIAL
- Fabrics: velvet, satin, silk, brocade
- Metallic threads: gold/silver zari, dabka, kasab
- Embellishments: sequins, beads, stones, salma-sitara
- Wooden embroidery frame (adda), tracing sheets, chalk powder
CRAFT MAKING PROCESS
HOW TO IDENTIFY GENUINE AND AUTHENTIC CRAFT:
- Natural terracotta tones with mineral colours (not synthetic glossy paint).
- Minor irregularities are natural due to hand-modelling techniques.