![]() Types of Coloured Terracotta Dolls The terracotta dolls are classified with some comical names such as shilet dolls, hingli dolls, mask dolls, big dolls, jhum-jhumi dolls etc. Shilet dolls are hung on the walls like plaques. Hingli dolls are made by shaping the soft clay with fingers. Mask dolls are basically in the shape of a mask which mostly varies in size. Big dolls are generally made of two shells and they vary from 10 to 25 cm in height. A special type of hingli doll is produced in some parts of West Bengal; the dolls are in shape of women carrying a baby in her arm with a hand on her waist. This type of hingli dolls are the most remarkable ones. ![]() Procedure of Making Terracotta Dolls First, a thin disk of clay is put into a mould to get the desired form for the doll. After getting the shapes from the mould, they are all joined together and dried up and then burnt in fire. The colour for the painting on the dolls is generally prepared before with the help of the age old process. Lampblack, blue and green vitriol, mud-coloured vermilion, soft clay, red ochre, chalk and lac-dye are used to prepare the colour. In modern days, artisans of these dolls use chemical paints, which are easily available in the market. A paste of tamarind seeds or the glue of marmelos or margosa is applied for making the colour stick to the body of the doll. ![]() Mostly, the artisans of these terracotta dolls are from the districts of Medinipur and Howrah. In Medinipur, the painters of Narhajol are the most popular ones for making these dolls. Apart from Narhajol, painters of Nirbhoypur, Siuri, Keshabbarh, Chaitanyapur, Naya, Golgram, Hobibachak, Muradpur and Madpur of the same district have also been producing terracotta dolls since ages. The painters' communities of Chandipur, Liluah and Prashastha villages of Howrah District are also popular for their artistry in making terracotta dolls. The painters of Puinan, Talchinan and Morha villages of Hooghly District, Akhrapunji and Kankanberhe of South 24 Parganas District and some villages of Birbhum District are still occupied in making these dolls. |