italian styles exerted much less influence across the empire in terracotta figurines or statuettes than in pottery vessels; here the longstanding traditions of greek terracotta figurines, and those of egypt and other eastern provinces of the empire, were the dominant influences. in some northern provinces, such as gaul and germany, there was no native iron age tradition of making terracotta figurines, but new industries developed under roman influence manufacturing mould-made figures in fine white pipeclay. like bronze statuettes, which would have been more expensive items, small terracotta figures were generally made for ritual or religious purposes, such as dedication at temples, display in household shrines, or as grave-goods to be deposited with the dead. however, some terracottas were also used as toys by children, even if they were not manufactured for that specific purpose. most of the small terracotta figurines were mould-made objects manufactured in quite large numbers, and most would have been painted in bright colours when new. these pigments, applied after firing, rarely survive burial except in small and faded patches.