India, a country where an underlying sense of unity abounds in diversity has a deep-rooted sense of tradition.
Tamil Nadu, in southeast India occupies the pinnacle of the country’s fine culture with its abundant traditional
pottery, woodworks, paintings and jewelry.
South Indian culture, art and crafts flourished under the benefaction of the generous and intellectual rulers of the Pallava, Chola, Pandya and the Vijayanagar dynasties.
Tamil Nadu, the country’s cultural hot seat is renown for its magnificent temples and monuments that recount a tale of the country’s historic grandeur and majestic splendor.
Archeologists have excavated relics of
South Indian pottery. They are mainly made of terracotta moulds painted in a rich brown color. The ancient pottery reflects the country’s legacy as well as the sophistication and cultural refinement of the ancient people.
The terracotta works were elaborately sculpted by the dexterous craftsmen of the ancient era. The pottery mainly comprised of carvings of Ayyannar horses. These horses which were considered sacred since they were supposed to ward of the evil. These horses also narrate a fantastic tale of the vestiges of time and the glorious conquests of the ancient rulers. The ancient monarchs were great warriors and hence horses the principal mode of transport occupied a prestigious and revered position that has been aptly depicting in the remnants of
Tamil Nadu’s pottery.
Large terracotta horses have also been discovered. It is generally supposed that these horses were manufactured in the Salem and Pudukottai areas.
It is remarkable that many of these ancient paraphernalia have paved the way for many trendy crockery, ceramic ware and lifestyle products, very much in vogue today.
Last Updated on 1/17/2011
