Terracotta as a medium has dominated the handicraft scene of Assam since time immemorial. The tradition itself has been handed down from the generation to generation without break. Today we have the descendent of such families engaged in improvised terracotta versions of various common figures of gods and goddesses to mythological characters.
Assam has two different communities? hira and the kumar in the clay and terracotta craft. Both have two different methods of working. The hiras follow the compression method and prepare the household articles and this craft is carried out by the women of hiras. . The kumars follow the wheel method and produce beautiful pottery articles which are first made on the wheel, dried and cooked in the bhattis or the ovens. The most commonly used pottery products include plates, earthern lamps, clay dolls, chains, diyas, pitchers, cups, incense ? sticks holders and many more items.
Assamese terracotta products are exquisite examples of immaculate craftsmanship. Household articles, toys, dolls and images of worship are the main products. Gauripur is the centre for terracotta products in Assam.