Clay figurines are shaped, dried or fired figures made from local river or hillside clay — one of the oldest continuous toy traditions in the world. The process begins with kneading and preparing the clay to remove air and stones. Figures are then shaped by hand or in moulds, allowed to dry in the sun, and either kept as unfired painted pieces or fired in low-temperature kilns.
After firing, most are painted with mineral or vegetable pigments in traditional patterns. Common forms include animals, human figures, mythological subjects, and festival-specific pieces. Clay is affordable, easy to replace, and forgives error — which is why it has always been a toy medium for ordinary families. Many clay-figurine traditions are held by family workshops, with recipes for clay preparation, painting and firing carried from parent to child.
Explore this craft by country
Each country page describes how this tradition is practised there — its own names, materials, workshops and living makers.