What are Channapatna toys – Wooden toys?
Channapatna toys are a unique form of lacquered wooden toys handcrafted in the small town of Channapatna situated on the Bengaluru-Mysore highway. Channapatna has got a charming moniker “Gombegala Ooru” or the toy-town of Karnataka. The brightly colored Channapatna wooden toy craft has the GI tag that secures it to remain associated with this particular town forever and that is what makes this toy craft story epic!
Pic Credits: MozaicQ
Pic credits: Pep up street on Pinterest
History of Channapatna toys
Stories from locals recall how Channapatna’s people became master toy makers. It was Tipu Sultan – The Tiger of Mysore in the 18th century who ruled over the Deccan, from Srirangapatna and introduced the art of wooden toys. A foreign guest is said to have arrived at his courtyard bearing beautiful gifts. These gifts were beautifully painted shiny wooden dolls brought all the way from Persia. Delighted by the dolls, Tipu was said to have immediately asked his guest to get Persian artisans to teach his people toy making.
The other name that is associated with the history of Channapatna toys is Bavas Miyan. He is called the “Father of Channapatna toys”. He adopted Japanese technology for making the toy manufacturing process easier.
Pic Credits: Scientific American on Pinterest
Image Credits: kseebsolutions
Facts about Wooden Toys from Channapatna
Some of the facts about Channapatna toys are as follows:
- These toys have around 200-year-old history and still are handmade.
- Traditionally, Aale mara wood also called ivory wood is used in making Channapatna toys. The scientific name of ivory wood is Wrightia Tinctoria. Occasionally, rosewood, neem wood, teak, and sandalwood are also used.
- The toys are polished so that there are no pointed edges on them.
- Edible or vegetable colors are used to color up the wooden toys. This makes the toys absolutely safe for the kids.
- The wooden waste is recycled to make incense sticks, MDF, and many more.
- The craft is not practiced in large-scale industries or factories. They are confined to small-scale factories having 6 to 10 people. Moreover, sometimes the work is done right outside the houses of the artisans.
- Last year, PM Modi called for the e-marketing of indigenous toys, including Channapatna toys.
- These wooden toys from Channapatna have made their way into the shelves of the White House. Michelle Obama was so impressed by these wooden toys that she bought them for her.
- Microsoft purchased the Channapatna educational puzzles as gifts for their employees.
- India’s Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman gifted special wooden toys to the Bhutan Prince.
Pic credits: Indiatvnews
Pic credits: MozaicQ
Process of making Channapatna toys
Fashioned out of wood – mainly traditional ivory wood(Aalemara wood), other wood such as rosewood, sandalwood, teak, rubber, neem, or cedar are also used nowadays, these toys have around 200-year-old history. Geometrical instruments like divider and vernier caliper are used to maintain accurate size. The logs of woods are then cut into shapes both using machines and hands. and lacquered with vivid natural dyes. The colors are prepared using shellac chips/ natural resin(lac) and vegetable dyes like yellow from turmeric, red from natural alizarin and Kum Kum power, orange from Kanchi Kum Kum power, blue and black from indigo, and green from indigo and turmeric. The lac sticks are melted over a low coal fire and once they become semi-solid, vegetable colors are added to them. The lac color mix is mixed thoroughly over the fire until the color becomes uniform. The mix is then mashed and turned into a color stick. The color stick is used in coloring the toys. As the wooden piece spins on the machine, the artist holds the color stick to uniformly apply. Meanwhile, he polishes the colored part.
Pic credits: gaatha.com
Pic credits: Team MozaicQ
Where can I buy the wooden Channapatna toys online?
There are many factories that offer you many toys, also there is a slight difference in prices compared to online / stores. It is slightly cheaper in the factory as compared to the online or stores. However, online stores provide you with a wide variety to choose from.
For finding more about various Kids games and art around you, explore the MozaicQ app
