Terracotta then and now

Terracotta is a brown/orange coloured, clay-like ceramic that you've probably got in your garden.

Generally it’s used for making your flower pots, although most of us now have terracotta coloured plastic pots. Other uses include piping for sewage, bricks and even sculptures.

Since the dawn of time (well, pre-14 Century – long enough) terracotta or “baked earth”, has been a staple material for artists and merchants alike. Some of the most iconic images of terracotta comes in the form of the Chinese Terracotta Army in Xi’an.

www.deborahperkin.com

Of course, few of us are likely to be moulding and firing an army of earthenware soldiers in our backyard kilns, but what you might see, especially on one of your trips to the garden centre on a rainy Sunday, is terracotta roofing tiles.

Incredibly malleable and hard wearing, terracotta is used throughout the world and as archaeologists can attest, it lasts an awfully long time (over 5,000 years).

This video shows how the professionals shape terracotta to their will.

This is somewhat different to that scene in ‘Ghost’, but if you happen to know a Patrick or a Demi, give ‘em a call and see what you can create.

If you do decide to fashion your own tiles, you can use them to create your own patio or some other garden feature. That being said, it might be worth keeping an eye on the old wear and tear. Dirt accumulates on terracotta as much as it does anything else and in that eventuality, it's a good idea to call the professionals. We'll scrub that clay and restore it's gleam.