Etikopaka toys- Colorful Softwood-Lacquer-ware Toys

In India, there are variety of handcrafted dolls. Karntaka’s famous Channapatna dolls, Kondapalli and Etikopaka dolls from Andhra Pradesh. Kondapalli , Etikopaka and Channapatna toys are wooden toys. And in many regions clay dolls are also made, one such example for clay doll is clay dolls from Kolkata.

Making of Etikoppaka toys:

Etikoppaka is a small village  , in Andhra Pradesh. This village is well known for the wooden toys made there. The toys are made with wood and lacquer. The origin of these toys dates back to 225 years ago. The shining surface is to the toys are given by lacquer and natural colors. The wood used for making the toys is called Ankudu( Scientific name : Wrightia tinctoria). These  toys  do not cause any  harm to kids and Eco friendly.

The features of the dolls are different from Kondapalli dolls. The features resemble to features of Channapatna toys. In Etikopaka toys,the features on the face are not carved, but drawn and painted. Here are Ganesha dolls made in Kondapalli and Etikopaka styles.

Comparison between Etikopaka and Kondapalli toys

Etikopaka toys are majorly influenced by nature, mythology and day to day routine works. They make the toys of birds, animals , farmer ploughing, bullock carts , kitchen sets,mythological characters  etc.

Etikopaka toys-Birds

Etikopaka toys-Birds

Etikopaka toys-Couple

Etikopaka toys-Mythological character

Etikopaka toys-Kitchen sets

Change with time and market needs:

All the images in this post are provided  by SriramSumruddhi .(Website http://sriramsamruddhigreen.com)  They deal with almost all kinds of dolls of India. And their customer service is also very satisfying. When I talked to the proprietor Ms. Shailaja, she explained me, how the technique and appearance of  Etikopaka toys are changing with time and according to demand in the market. Etikopaka is a small village and the artisans have very limited market there. So the market of Etikopaka  is dominated  by the middlemen. The original traditional designs have very little requirement in the market. So the artisans are making the toys, depending on the customization instructions given by the middlemen. They are making now more of home decor items.

Home decor-Etikopaka toys

Home decor-Etikopaka toys

Home decor-Etikopaka toys

The customization according to market, slowly changing the techniques , and the look of the toys too. This happens with most of the crafts of India.  🙁

People are preparing for Gombehabba. Soon will post about different places where you get good quality dolls.

Until then

–Love , laugh and live the life to the fullest,

-Ranjana