literatures, religions, and arts of the himalayan region

Patricia M. Tuttle
ptuttle@dadeschools.net
Devon Aire K-8 Center
Himalayan Art Inspires Elementary Artists

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Lesson 2: CERAMIC CLAY TSA-TSAS

In this lesson, students will study the concept of making Tsa-Tsas and other embossing processes, the technique of making molds and using the molds to produce multiple images.

Students will make a design for a Tsa-Tsa using oil clay. A plaster cast will be made of the Tsa-Tsa oil clay design. Students will make repeated impressions in ceramic clay from the plaster cast.

 

What is a Tsa-Tsa?

 

Other embossing processes: SEALS

OBJECTIVES:

Knowledge students will gain:

  • Studying an ancient craft process. (Circa 5,000 B.C.E. first clay artifact)
  • Artifacts that are created by other cultures.
  • Recognizing that ceramic clay is a natural material used throughout the world as a building material.
  • The technique of making originals and molds.
  • Ceramic clay is used to make a variety of functional and decorative objects.
  • Throughout history humans have used a stamp (embossing) impression to produce personal insignia or images.
  • Buddhist tenets, rituals and visual symbols influence the production of Tsa-Tsas.

 

 

 

 

Other embossing processes: SIGNETS



 

Additional Tsa-Tsa images

 

MORE TSA-TSA IMAGES

 

 


 

 

Rituals of making Tsa-Tsas

 

 

Collection of Tsa-Tsas from the Rubin Museum

 

Learn about mold methods

 

How to make molds

 
This site was created by Patricia M. Tuttle at the NEH Summer Institute "Literatures, Religions, and Arts of the Himalayan Region," held at the College of the Holy Cross, Summer 2008.