Detailed information on the process of production of Karnataka ethnic toy of Channapatna town.

1. A CASE STUDY ON
CHANNAPATNA TOYS
Team Members:
AKSHAY MALGI
AKSHATA BALAGI
DILEEP
ANUSHA
ABHISHEK SINGH
AKSHAY HIREMATH

2. History
Different narratives of the origin of the art.
Tippu sultan period.
Earlier, about 100-120 years ago channapatna was
famous for making strings of veena. Later on toy
making was started. The abundant availability of
‘aalemara’ (pala indigo)-Wrightia Tintoria tree in the
surroundings of channapatna is the reason why
people started toy making here.
There are few places like Nilasandra, Saidawadi
around Channapatna who also started making toys.
Compared to 100 years ago, now the work of toy
making is increased by 200%.

3. Demographics
Presently, nearly 300 families from both Hindu and
Muslim community are involved in this art of toy-
making.
These families are involved with toy making
because they don’t think it is good enough to live
with meager earning of 300-400 rupees/day.
Because it’s a daily wage work, the workers are
prone to discontinue the work.
 Only 20-25% families would like to continue with
art. According to 1981 census, around 60% of
population were artisans.

4. Sources of raw material:
Sourced – bought from a place called Gondya, MP.
A liquid called “haragu” – made out of a dung of a
certain insect - found in roots of trees in those
forest.
Its extracted and powdered.
Haragu + root powder = color
Nearly 8 colors can be obtained. It is completely
non-toxic.

5. Material Management:
In the ‘wood room’, the wood is stacked according
to the thickness.
It is left in the wood room to season it.
After a period of time, in the same room, it is cut
into smaller pieces.
Here, nothing goes to waste as:-
i) the smaller pieces are used as fire wood
and ii) saw dust is used to make incense sticks.
Saw dust is not treated chemically, hence it comes
off non-toxic.

6. Production Process:
Mallet (a hammer with large-wooden head) is used
to beat the work piece to the desired form.
Piece is cut into various forms using mechanized
‘saw’ machine.
Work piece is then ‘turned’ on the lathe machine,
using tools to curve the surface.
Cuts and incisions (precise cuttings) are made on
surface using chisels.

7. Production Process ….
Sand paper is used to smoothen and file the
surface for ‘sleek’ finish (smooth and glossy)
Surface is smoothened for the process of coloring
using ‘taale-gari’ dry leaf.
The colored lacquer sticks [this looks like wax,
where the heat melts the color and then the heat
generated due to friction helps in sticking the color
on to it] are used to impart to the work piece.
Vegetable dyes are used to manufacture various
attractive colors/lacquer sticks.
Heat melts the colored lacquer sticks on the
surface.

8. MALLET
CHISEL

9. IVORY PINK IVORY

10. Lacquer Sticks

11. Rose wood Vegetables