The Timeless Transience of Terracotta

Do you remember playing with clay as a child? The soft and squishy dough that you could mold into anything you wanted: animals, houses, or even people! Maybe you still have some of them as souvenirs of your childhood. Humans have been fascinated with clay for thousands of years. How do we know? Through the remains, we find a form that’s stronger and equally fascinating: Terracotta. This one will be just about that, where we will explore the art of terracotta, from pots to warriors; of how baked earth shaped human civilization.

Like all important words, Terracotta is derived from the Latin words terra meaning “earth”, and coquere meaning “to cook”. It has a long and illustrious history that spans across time and space. Originally used for utilitarian purposes such as pottery and vessels, terracotta soon revealed its artistic potential and durability, attracting the attention of master sculptors like Michelangelo, who used it for sketching and modeling his works.?

From the Romans to the Egyptians, terracotta became a favored medium for creating sculptures of various sizes and styles, demonstrating its versatility and resilience. Some of the most remarkable eamples of ancient terracotta art include the Venus of Dolni Vestonice (c.26,000 BCE), one of the oldest known ceramic figurines; the Thinker of Cernavoda (5000 BCE), a mysterious Neolithic statue; and the Chinese Terracotta Army Warriors (246-208 BCE), a massive and intricate burial complex of over 8,000 soldiers.

The beginning of the Terracotta Trends

Terracotta is truly a remarkable material that has shaped and enriched human civilization. It was used for various purposes such as sculptures, architectural elements, roof tiles, sarcophagi, and pottery. In construction, the first sun-dried clay bricks were used as early as 7500 BC, by the people of Tell Aswad in the upper Tigris region in south-east Anatolia. The first fired bricks are reported to have been used in Neolithic China, around 4400 BC at Chengtoushan, as flooring for houses.??

In the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, terracotta was a popular substitute for scarce stone, and it was used for making busts, reliefs, and models for bronze casting. The journey of Terracotta took a notable turn in the 19th and early 20th centuries when it became a fundamental building material. It was especially favored in the Art Deco style, which featured ornate and geometric designs. Terracotta was ideal for embellishing the facades of buildings, as it could be molded, glazed, and colored in various ways.?

Triumphs and Tribulations

In the late 19th century, a tragedy paved the way for terracotta as a ‘standard’ building material. In the devastating Chicago fire in 1871, which destroyed most of the city, terracotta was one of the few materials that survived. This property was acknowledged and appreciated, and it led to the establishment of the National Terracotta Society and the formulation of rules for its use in buildings. Terracotta became a symbol of safety and resilience, and it continued to be used in many landmark buildings and heritage sites.

The popularity of terracotta was not just because it was strong. It was also a smart choice (and eco-friendly, if that was a thing back then) as it consumed less energy (and hence produced less carbon) than ceramics. But what really made terracotta special was its ability to absorb water better than ceramics. This gave it many practical uses, especially in hot and dry regions. For example, in ancient Egypt, people would fill terracotta vessels with water and place them around their houses. Then, they would create a cool breeze by blowing air through the vessels, thus enjoying some relief from the heat.

However, like all trends, terracotta also started to fade away with time (only metaphorically). New materials like steel and glass came into the scene, bringing with them new possibilities and advantages. They were sleek and modern, and they matched the style of the Bauhaus movement that shaped the world’s architecture. Architects and people preferred these materials over terracotta, which seemed outdated and dull.

Revival and Resilience?

But Terracotta did not give up. It had something that steel and glass did not: a natural and organic quality. It was made from clay, and it had a rich history and culture behind it. It was also durable and versatile, and it could be molded into various shapes and forms. It could also blend well with different environments and climates and had a low environmental impact. These qualities made terracotta a valuable and viable material for the contemporary era.

Terracotta is now experiencing a revival. It is redefining building facades, slabs, and walls, giving them a unique and distinctive character. It is also inspiring new trends and innovations in design, such as modular systems, kinetic facades, and biomimetic forms. Terracotta is resilient and adaptable, and it has a lot to offer to the world.