Craft Revival of Ayyanar Terracotta Horses & Their Potential in Contemporary Product Design

Abstract

Ayyanar terracotta horses are among Tamil Nadu’s most culturally significant rural artefacts, symbolizing village guardianship, ritual devotion, and community identity. While these sculptures hold immense cultural value, their presence in modern contexts remains limited. This research explores the sustainable revival of Ayyanar terracotta through contemporary product design applications. Using methods such as literature review, material analysis, user surveys, and co-creation insights from artisans, the study examines how traditional motifs, clay properties, and symbolic features can be meaningfully adapted into modern lifestyle products such as lamps, planters, desk artefacts, and utility objects. Findings demonstrate that terracotta’s natural materiality, cultural depth, and aesthetic versatility make it highly suitable for modern design when supported by artisan collaboration and sustainable processes. The research concludes that culturally rooted, functionally redesigned terracotta products can both preserve heritage and meet contemporary design expectations.

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