Bankura, West Bengal

Bankura Terracotta Horse (Bankura Panchmura Terracotta Craft)

A small hand-built figurine of a long-necked horse in brownish-red terracotta clay, with flared ears and bold painted geometric patterns, famed for its elegant stance and abstract form. It is made entirely by hand without a wheel, mostly by Kumbhakar-community potters, and fired before being painted. The craft is registered as the GI 'Bankura Panchmura Terracotta Craft' (28 March 2018), and the Bankura horse is the logo of All India Handicrafts. Buyers get anything from a desk-top figurine to a large showpiece, and can watch live terracotta demonstrations in Panchmura.

Typical price: ₹100-5000

Buying tip: Buy directly from Panchmura or Bishnupur workshops where you can see the making process; small painted pieces are a few hundred rupees while large showpieces run into the thousands. Look for the GI 'Bankura Panchmura Terracotta Craft' marking on serious pieces.