ಮಡಿಕೆ ಎಂಬುವುದು ಮಣ್ಣಿನಿಂದ ಮಾಡಲ್ಪಟ್ಟ ಒಂದು ವಸ್ತು. ಇದನ್ನು ತಯಾರಿಸುವವರಿಗೆ ಕುಂಬಾರರು ಎನ್ನುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಮಡಿಕೆಯನ್ನು ತಯಾರಿಸುವುದು ಒಂದು ಕಲೆ, ಆ ಕಲೆಯು ಕುಂಬಾರ ಜನಾಂಗದವರಿಗೆ ರಕ್ತಗತವಾಗಿ ಬಂದಿರುತ್ತದೆ. ತಲೆಮಾರಿನಿಂದ ತಲೆಮಾರಿಗೆ ಮುಂದುವರಿದುಕೊಂಡು ಬಂದಿದೆ.

Pottery is the process and the products of forming vessels and other objects with clay and other raw materials, which are fired at high temperatures to give them a hard and durable form. The place where such wares are made by a potter is also called a pottery. The definition of pottery, used by the ASTM International, is "all fired ceramic wares that contain clay when formed, except technical, structural, and refractory products". End applications include tableware, decorative ware, sanitary ware, and in technology and industry such as electrical insulators and laboratory ware. In art history and archaeology, especially of ancient and prehistoric periods, pottery often means vessels only, and sculpted figurines of the same material are called terracottas.