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Ornamental earth

Making terracotta jewellery is fun and work for Reena Kappen

PHOTO: SAMPATH KUMAR G.P.

PLAYING WITH CLAY Reena's terracotta creations go well with everyday wear

Which woman doesn't love jewellery? And when it comes to earthy terracotta jewellery many more hands go up.

Reena Kappen was always interested in the arts — making greeting cards and painting on fabric was a childhood passion. But back then, she didn't know the possibilities of terracotta. Then, one day, husband and renowned artist C.F. John brought home some clay for their son to play with. Reena picked up some and started rolling them into beads "for fun".

What it triggered was her talent to make jewellery out of clay. She made a few pieces at home and took it to the office where she worked. The first batch was a total sell-out. Colleagues wanted to buy more. "My first experience of the reaction to my jewellery made me very happy. But even then I never thought of it as a profession. So I started making this jewellery on weekends," says Reena.

But the boring job that involved sitting in front of the computer all day long finally got to her. Moreover, her clientele was growing. Friends who came home bought her stuff. Word spread and more people landed at home hoping to buy her jewellery.

So when she was well into her 30s she quit her nine-to-five admin job to start making terracotta jewellery fulltime at her home studio. She trained in pottery at The Design Centre before she embarked formally into the profession and created her own brand Earth Craft.

The highlight of her jewellery, says Reena, is that she doesn't use any moulds — all of it is shaped by hand and baked in a kiln at home. Also, no design is repeated. "When I start playing with the clay in my hands, the designs just come to my mind. Moreover forms in nature are a large inspiration — leaves and flowers especially," she says. It shows in her numerous creations — shapes of raindrops, ladybird-like beads, seashell designs and so on.

She does almost all the work and has only one assistant to help her out. She first makes the beads and other shapes of pendants and earrings. Then fires them and paints them with acrylic, before threading them. Right now she sticks to making earrings, bracelets, necklaces and sets.

The production

Reena manages to create around 75 pieces a month. She's held two major exhibitions of her work and has been invited by the Central Cottage Industries twice to bring her work to their exhibitions too. Her Earth Craft label is stocked at Gallery Sara Arakkal and Saundaryalahari in Indiranagar. Prices start at Rs. 50 and go up to Rs. 500 for elaborate sets.

You can catch her work at the Cottage Mela organised by the Central Cottage Industries Emporium that will be on till January 15 at the St. Joseph's Boys' High School Grounds (Webb's Grounds) on M.G. Road. Reena can also be contacted on 25448102.

BHUMIKA K.

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