“Terra Cotta” comes from the Italian for “baked earth”.Made from natural clay, and usually unglazed, it wastypically worked by hand, rather than on a potter’s wheel.The color is primarily brownish orange, depending oniron content in the source clay. Historically baked in the sun,eventually terra cotta was fired in high temperature kilns.

Terra cotta was used for sculptures and pottery in theancient world – in India, Mesopotamia, Greece, West Africa,and China. The Terracotta Army of the First Emperor ofChina, dating from 210BC, is the most famous example.8000 life sized soldiers, 600+ horses, and thousands ofother figures have been unearthed since theirdiscovery in 1974.

During the Renaissance in Italy, terra cotta was prized as asculptural medium. In the 15th century, the Della Robbiafamily developed their prized reliefs, often glazed, especiallythe Madonna decorative medallions. Italian artisans spreadterra cotta’s popularity throughout Europe. Even inmodern times, sculptors like Maillol and Picasso workedin terra cotta.

Examples of terra cotta in our ETC. collection include:

 - W006. Italian planter. Cherub’s head and wings.
- M365. Chinese umbrella/cane stand with gilded dragon.
- S066. Serene Buddha face (fragment).
- S085. Italian Renaissance head of child from Florence.
- W003. Terra cotta Italian tando with Madonna and child.