The Making Of Terracotta Lamps: A Journey From Clay To Craftsmanship
The word terracotta comes from the Italian language, meaning “baked clay”. Being natural, it is one of the most ancient art forms known to mankind. Terracotta has been used to make a variety of products since time immemorial and when it comes to terracotta lamps, the story couldn’t be more special. These are more than just clay objects, they are symbols of heritage, handmade beauty and the glory of clay.
Let us take you through the centuries-old process of making a handmade terracotta lamp—from a simple lump of clay to a warm, glowing work of art.
Sourcing The Right Clay
The first step in making the lamp begins with natural clay, which is not found everywhere but is usually found on river banks. It is this red clay that gives terracotta its distinctive rust-red color. The artisans perform the first step very carefully and select the clay, sift out stones and debris to create a fine, flexible base.
Preparing The Clay
Once the clay is collected in the first stage, it is soaked in water for a few hours or even overnight and this is very important for making lamps. This makes it a soft and workable paste and makes it easier to make lamps. After this, it is kneaded well like dough so that air bubbles are removed and the texture remains good and uniform.
This second step is extremely important because if the clay is not prepared properly, the lamp may break and you may end up wasting a lot of time. Therefore, every artisan spends a lot of time on this, feeling the texture and controlling the moisture by hand.
Shaping The Lamp
The third step in making Handmade Clay Hanging Lamps is shaping them for which there are two common techniques:
Hand-moulding is a traditional method often used where the artisans shape the clay using
only their fingers and simple wooden sticks. Each lamp has slight variations which further add to its charm.
Wheel-moulding is another method used to shape the lamps and involves using a rotating
pottery wheel to shape a symmetrical lamp base. This is an ideal method for more intricate designs.
Drying Naturally
After the lamps are shaped, they’re left to dry slowly in the shade—never in direct sunlight. Depending on the weather, this can take anywhere from a couple of days to a whole week. Rushing it with heat can lead to cracks, so patience is key. This drying process is very slow and helps to harden the clay naturally, maintaining its strength for a long time.
Firing In A Kiln
When the lamps are completely dry, they are carefully and thoroughly kiln-fired at temperatures between 800°C and 1,000°C. This is a very important step that is done very carefully. This transforms the clay from a fragile form into a durable piece of porcelain. When fired, the clay gets its terracotta color which is a deep red. In some traditional villages, the firing process is done using cow dung, wood or dried leaves—keeping the process completely organic.
Finishing Touches
Once clay hanging lamps are fully fired, some terracotta lamps are left unglazed for a natural matt look and given a finishing touch. The lamp may be oiled to deepen the colour, painted or varnished for festivals. And many lamps may also have fixtures or tea light holders attached.
Final Thoughts The journey of a terracotta lamp from clay to craftsmanship is a wonderful and laborious one and it proves that beauty emerges slowly from clay and hands and not just from machines. At Flicker Shine, we make a wide range of such handmade terracotta lamps and provide you with a wide range of designs. This includes wall lamp, ceiling lamp and table lamp. You can choose any lamp as per your choice to completely change the ambiance of your home.
