Page 122 - Art and Crafts of Bangladesh

SCULPTURE 119

from their services to these foreigners (pls. 2.9, 2.10,
2.11). On the Chandranath Shiva temple of Hetampur,
Birbhum, the octagonal building with nine ratnas is
topped by surprising figures of winged angels wearing
long western gowns. The tympanum above the arched
doorways have a plaque of Mahisasurmardini Durga
but next to it is also a circular plaque with the three
lions over a cross motif which was the insignia of the
British crown, as well as European figures of men and
women signifying the servile mentality of the donor.
Anyway, as by the middle of the 19th century,
terracotta decorative tradition started to disappear with
the diminishing economic prosperity of the gentry, the terracotta craftspeople tried to
survive through this new medium of stucco. But that also did not continue long, as the
theory of temple building as a virtuous act, began to disappear from amongst the newly
educated elite society of the Bengali babus. So by the first half of the 20th century,
decorated temples, be it with stucco or otherwise, became a rarity. The long tradition
of terracotta, living through many difficulties and experiencing many changes through
the various periods, finally began to disappear from the heart of Bengal. The art which
was the pride product of this deltaic region, created by the Bengali artists, became a
part of history and the descendants of the artists ultimately became absorbed in the
small community of the kumhars or idol makers, who are sought only during the fig. 2.33 (top)
different puja festivals. But in recent times the conscious educated elite society in both Combing hair and
parts of Bengal, is trying to revive the proud tradition of terracotta art, as connoisseurs engaged in toiletry
are commissioning artists to copy temple terracotta art, as well as make plaques small fig. 2.34 (bottom)
or large with new themes, to be set on the walls of important buildings of the country. Taking milk products to
Small copies of famous temple terracotta plaques are also sold as decorative pieces, the market
which are collected and cherished by people. Thus the tradition seems to be struggling
to survive in an unfriendly and unappreciative world.