Prarthana Pawar K
Channapatna toys are a particular form of wooden toys and dolls that are manufactured in
the town of Channapatna in the Ramanagar district of Karnataka state. This traditional craft
is protected as a geographical indication (GI ) under the World Trade Organization,
administered by the Government of Karnataka. As a result of the popularity of these toys,
Channapatna is known as the Gombegala Ooru (toy town) of Karnataka. Traditionally, the
work involved lacquering the wood of the Wrightia tinctoria tree, colloquially called Aale
mara (ivory – wood)
Through the countless trips to the town of Mysore and further on our trips to Ooty, we
have always enjoyed the stretch of the Bangalore – Mysore highway that crosses along the
town of Channapatna. As we cross the welcoming board saying “Welcome to the land of
toys – Channapatna .” Immediately our eyes get glued to the beautiful and vibrant wooden
toys lined in front of all the shops along the road. Sometimes we even stopped on our way
to buy some of these unique toys and crafts for us and our kids. But it was only this
month finally that I embarked on the true journey of exploring the legendary Channapatna
toys. So, let me take you along with me on this journey today.
What are Channapatna Toys and why are Channapatna Toys famous?
Channapatna town of Karnataka, India. Some large factories in Channapatna produce these
toys on a large scale. While there are many other households in Channapatna. Which have
been making these toys since generation. What makes the Channapatna toys unique is how
they are manufactured. As most of these toys are handmade. And also painted in organic
colors extracted from vegetables and plants and natural dyes. So, this makes the
Channapatna Toys is 100%chemical free. Traditionally, they are mostly made of Ivory Wood.
However, nowadays sandalwood and mango wood are also used. Their shapes are mostly
round and cubes with blunt edges so they are completely safe for kids. In fact, on
several occasions, Channapatna Toys have got international recognition. When Michelle
Obama saw them, she couldn’t resist buying some. Also, the prince of Bhutan grew up
playing with them. When I bought my first Channapatna Toy, I didn’t realize the depth of culture and the thoughtfulness that goes beyond each one of the
Channapatna Toys. Now, after walking through the legendary story of the Channapatna
Toys at the hands of the artisans, I can well relate to the rest of the toys in the world.
History of Origin of the Channapatna Toys
The historic ruler of Mysore, Tipu Sultan, is the one attributed to introducing these
wooden toys to the current town of Channapatna. Tipu Sultan is widely known as an
admirer of art, particularly wooden artwork. He invited artists from Persia to train the local
artists in wooden toy making. And then helped thrive in this industry locally. Also,
afterward, a man named “Bavas Miyan” introduced doll-making as a part of Channapatna
Toys. His dolls were inspired by Japanese dolls. And to date, you can see these dolls
occupying prominent space on the shelves of Channapatna shops. Ever since the
Channapatna toys were introduced by Tipu Sultan, generation after generation the art has
been passed on by families. And majorly it has remained a household industry. As you walk
through the town of Channapatna, you will see most of the houses equipped with
producing toys on a small scale. And some have their factories as well.
A Channapatna Toy Making Factory walkthrough
Most of the factories in Channapatna are more than happy to give customers a walk-through
through the complete process of toy making. As you watch the making of these toys, it
makes you appreciate the art better. Some charge a nominal fee for the tours
while others provide it for free. We are thankful to Bharat Art & Crafts who were happy to
provide us with a walkthrough of the factory without any charges. Let us quickly take you
through the process of the Channapatna Toys making with us. First, the logs of Ivory Woods
are obtained. They are mostly allocated to artisans and factories by the government.
Nowadays, sandalwood, rosewood, and mango wood are also used for crafts. But the best
results are obtained from Ivory Wood. As they are soft and easily molded. The next step
involves cutting the wood to the required measurements. In ancient times cutting
was also done by hand. But nowadays machines are used. Next, the artisan sand the
wood to make its surface as smooth as possible. After this, the artist works on the smooth-cut
log to give it the particular shape that will become one of the world-famous Channapatna
toys – a doll, a bobblehead, a top or a train, etc. Some still do it manually while in
factories they have machines to do it. The next step is then to fit the different parts of the
doll or toys together. Finally, the completed bobblehead is colored. For this, the artists
prepare organic colors from vegetable dyes or spices like turmeric and apply them to the
toy.
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