Channapatna toys are a particular form of wooden toys and dolls that are manufactured in the town of Channapatna in the Ramanagara district of Karnataka state, India. This traditional craft is protected as a geographical indication (GI) under the World Trade Organization, administered by the Government of Karnataka. [1] As a result of the popularity of these toys, Channapatna is known as the Gombegala Ooru (toy-town) of Karnataka. [2] Traditionally, the work involved lacquering the wood of the Wrightia tinctoria tree, [3] colloquially called Aale mara (ivory-wood). [4]
The greater prominence of the Channapatna toys can be traced to patronage from Tipu Sultan, the historic ruler of Mysore, though these toys existed before this period historically given as gifts as part of Dusshera celebrations. It is known that he was an ardent admirer of arts, and in particular of woodwork. [5] The art underwent dramatic changes over the years. Later, a man by the name of Bavas Miyan [6] undertook the responsibility to introduce Japanese doll making techniques to improve production and reduce the effort that went into making each piece of toy. For nearly two centuries, ivory-wood was the main wood used in the making of these toys, though rosewood and sandalwood were also occasionally used. [ citation needed ] P Mohamed Ilyas who is a colours expert for toys (master of colourful toys) has innovated colours based on themes and international seasons to create a market for the Channapatna artisans community.
The craft has diversified over time; in addition to the traditional ivory-wood, other woods—including rubber, sycamore, cedar, pine and teak—are now used as well. [7] Manufacturing stages include procuring the wood, seasoning the wood, cutting the wood into the desired shapes, pruning and carving the toys, applying the colours and finally polishing the finished product. Vegetable dyes are used in the colouring process to ensure that the toys and dolls are safe for use by children. [2] As of Oct 2011, Channapatna had a population of 71,902, [8] in which 254 in home manufacturing units and 50 in small factories, were engaged in the making of these toys. The Karnataka Handicrafts Development Corporation (KHDC) provides assistance with marketing efforts. The oldest and most popular manufacturing unit Bharath art and crafts help develop innovative products. [2]
With no proper back up or marketing, the Channapatna toy industry faced a financial crunch for more than a decade[ when? ] and was almost on the verge of dying out. [7] However, with the help of KHDC, the craft has been revived and the artisans involved are being trained on changing trends in the industry, to help them keep a breast of the current scenario. Prototypes designed by master craftsmen are introduced to the local artisans, who use them to create well-designed toys and dolls. The Government of Karnataka has also provided help by constructing a Lacquerware Craft Complex, which has a manufacturing centre with 32 turning lathe machines. [7] Financial assistance to the artisans, with help from the Dutch Government and the Karnataka Government's Vishwa scheme has also been provided.
Many new companies and social enterprises have been reviving the Channapatna craft to suit modern tastes. [9] iFolk Channapatna toys and handicrafts, few manufacturing units promotes and supports lacquerware artisans to do innovation and modernisation of their products. [7] In 2022, KSR Bangalore City railway station set up a dedicated stall for the toys as a pilot study. [10]
Tipu Sultan, commonly referred to as Sher-e-Mysore or "Tiger of Mysore", was an Indian ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore based in South India. He was a pioneer of rocket artillery. He expanded the iron-cased Mysorean rockets and commissioned the military manual Fathul Mujahidin. He deployed the rockets against advances of British forces and their allies during the Anglo-Mysore Wars, including the Battle of Pollilur and Siege of Srirangapatna.
Etikoppaka is a small village on the banks of Varaha River in Anakapalli district of Andhra Pradesh, India. In 2017, the traditional Etikoppaka toys acquired a geographical indication (GI) tag.
Channapatana is a city and taluk headquarters in Ramanagara District, Karnataka, India. Channapatna is approximately 60 km from Bangalore and 80 km from Mysore. The Kannadiga film actor Kishore was born here in 1974.
Karnataka is one of the highest economic growth states in India with an expected GSDP growth of 9.5% in the 2021–22 fiscal year. The total expected GSDP of Karnataka in 2022–2023 is about $240 billion. Karnataka recorded the highest growth rates in terms of GDP and per capita GDP in the last decade compared to other states. In 2008–09, the tertiary sector contributed the most to GSDP, followed by the secondary sector, and the primary sector.
Mysore painting is an important form of classical South Indian painting style that originated in and around the town of Mysore in Karnataka. The painting style was encouraged and nurtured by the Mysore rulers. Painting in Karnataka has a long and illustrious history, tracing its origins back to the Ajanta Caves period. The distinct school of Mysore painting evolved from the paintings during the Vijayanagara Empire period, the rulers of Vijayanagara and their feudatories encouraged literature, art and architecture as well as religious and philosophical discussions. With the fall of the Vijayanagara Empire after the 1565 Battle of Talikota, the artists who were until then under royal patronage migrated to various places such as Mysore, Tanjore and Surpur among others. Absorbing the local artistic traditions and customs, the erstwhile Vijayanagara school of painting gradually evolved into the many styles of painting in South India, including the Mysore and Tanjore schools of painting.
Bidriware is a metal handicraft from the city of Bidar in Karnataka, India. It was developed in the 14th century C.E. during the rule of the Bahmani Sultans. The term "bidriware" originates from the township of Bidar, which is still the chief center of production. The metal used is white brass that is blackened and inlaid with silver. As a native art form, Bidriware obtained a Geographical Indications (GI) registry on 3 January 2006.
Kasuti is a traditional form of folk embroidery practised in the state of Karnataka, India. Kasuti work which is very intricate sometimes involves putting up to 5,000 stitches by hand and is traditionally made on dresswear like Ilkal sarees, Ravike/Kuppasa(Khana) and Angi. The Karnataka Handicrafts Development Corporation (KHDC) holds a geographical indications (GI) protection for Kasuti embroidery which provides intellectual property rights on Kasuti to KHDC.
Mysore Sandal Soap is a brand of soap manufactured by the Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Limited (KSDL), a company owned by the government of Karnataka in India. This soap has been manufactured since 1916, when Krishna Raja Wadiyar IV, the king of Mysore, set up the Government Soap Factory in Bangalore. The main motivation for setting up the factory was the excessive sandalwood reserves that the Mysore Kingdom had, which could not be exported to Europe because of the First World War. In 1980, KSDL was incorporated as a company by merging the Government Soap Factory with the sandalwood oil factories at Shimoga and Mysore. Mysore Sandal Soap is the only soap in the world made from 100% pure sandalwood oil. KSDL owns a proprietary geographical indication tag on the soap, which gives it intellectual property rights to use the brand name, to ensure quality, and to prevent piracy and unauthorised use by other manufacturers. In 2006, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the Indian cricketer was selected as the first brand ambassador of the Mysore Sandal Soap.
Khagra is a locality of Baharampur in Murshidabad district in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is renowned for its manufacture of bell-metal and brass utensils, as well as ivory and wood carving.
The Kingdom of Mysore was a kingdom in southern India founded in 1399 by Yaduraya in the region of the modern city of Mysore, in the Karnataka state. The Wodeyar dynasty ruled the Southern Karnataka region until Indian independence in 1947, when the kingdom was merged with the Union of India.
Kinnal Craft or Kinhal Craft, is a traditional wooden craft local to the town of Kinhal, or Kinnal, in Koppal District, Karnataka, India.
Wrightia tinctoria, Pala indigo plant or dyer's oleander, is a flowering plant species in the genus Wrightia found in India, southeast Asia and Australia. It is found in dry and moist regions in its distribution. Various parts of the plant have been used in traditional medicine, but there is no scientific evidence it is effective or safe for treating any disease.
Kondapalli toys are toys made of wood in Kondapalli of Krishna district, a nearby Vijayawada in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. Bommala Colony translates to Toys Colony in Kondapalli is the place where the art of crafting takes place. It was registered as one of the geographical indication handicraft from Andhra Pradesh as per Geographical Indications of Goods Act, 1999. This GI application was filed by LIGHT and Kondapalli Wooden Toys Manufacturers.These toys were one of the varieties of toys assembled in the houses during the festivals of Sankranti and Navratri and is referred as Bommala Koluvu.
Varnam is a social enterprise that has been working with artisans in Channapatna, Karnataka in India, for more than four years. It has produced a series of designs intended to bring this 200-year-old toy-making craft into the home and lifestyle. Using traditional lac-turnery methods popularized by the traditional Channapatna toys range, the label produces home and lifestyle products, toys and jewelry.
Mysore Agarbathi is a variety of incense sticks manufactured at Mysore using locally grown ingredients which was found only in state of Karnataka. This incense has been awarded a Geographical Indication tag from the Government of India in 2005, due to its historic background and remote availability of material used.
Mysore Rosewood Inlay covers a range of techniques used by artisans in around the area of Mysore in sculpture and the decorative for inserting pieces of contrasting, often coloured materials like ivory shells, mother-of-pearl, horn and sandalwood into depressions in a rosewood object to form ornament or pictures that normally are flush with the matrix. These artifacts are manufactured in around the region of Mysore, these artifacts have been awarded Geographical Indication tag from the Government of India in 2005 due to its historic representation as an artifact depicting the region and the design and style used by the local artisans
Bastar wooden crafts are traditional Indian wooden crafts that are manufactured in the Bastar district of Chhattisgarh state, India. The wood-crafting work has been protected under the Geographical indication (GI) of the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) agreement. It is listed at item 84 as "Bastar Wooden Craft" of the GI Act 1999 of the Government of India with registration confirmed by the Controller General of Patents Designs and Trademarks.
Wooden toy-making is a traditional craft in the Varanasi district of Uttar Pradesh, India. Bright and colourful lacquered toys are made by clusters of skilled craftsmen. These toys were given the Geographical Indication tag in 2014, along with other lacquer ware produced in this region.
Aditi Ranjan is an Indian textile designer, educator and researcher involved in the field of Indian crafts. She taught textile design at the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad from 1974 to 2012. Ranjan is known for her book Handmade in India: A Geographic Encyclopedia of Indian Handicrafts based on Indian arts & crafts that she edited along with her partner and fellow design pedagogue, M. P. Ranjan.
Immadi Jagadevaraya was the king of Channapatna.