Channapatna Toys & Dolls
DownloadAs per the Karnataka Tourism report, "World-famous wooden toys and carvings” are produced in Channapatna. A perfect destination for craft admirers to discover vibrant wood products and to witness a serene city located on the banks of the Kanva River in the Bengaluru South District. Historical Lord Vishnu temple, Kanva reservoir and bird sanctuary, all this, still Chananpatna city is world famous for its majestic wood toys and dolls. The Channapatna wood industry provides livelihoods to thousands of families through its toy factories and bazaars.
The craft has been thriving for more than 200 years; the wood craftsmen of Channapatna are masters of wood carving, lacquering process, artistic creativity, vibrant coloring, and sustainable methods.
The main highlight of this wood craft is the material, ivory wood; most of the toys are crafted from this wood, and the lacquering process. The ivory wood is well suited for lacquering, as it is soft and highly durable. The wood is first shaped and carved, then placed in the rotating machine called a lathe, and then an artisan carefully pours melted lac of different colors on the rotating wood, which makes the lac uniformly cover the surface of the wood. At the final stage, palm leaves are used to give a glossy polish and a safe finish.
All raw materials used in this craft are very inexpensive and locally sourced, which has helped this craft to sustain this long period of time. Today, the never-ending charm of Channapatna's craftsmen and their craftsmanship continues to produce eye-catching woodcraft pieces, which are not just playthings but unique and admirable creations. To preserve and award this brilliant craft, the government recognised “Channapatna Toys & Dolls” with a geographical indication (GI) tag. This recognition ensures that only toys produced in Channapatna are authentic and made by an artist residing in Channapatna.
