Take a Trip to Toy Town

A Channapana toy produced in a style closer to the end of the 20th century, when the designs were more naïve and usually embellished with some hand painted features.

A lathe-turned and smoothly lacquered toy couple, dressed in traditional Indian clothes, made in Channapatna.

A toy couple dressed in another traditional Indian attire, lathe-turned and smoothly lacquered in Channapatna.

Channapatna toys of this type are usually made in detachable pieces.

Miniature reproductions of traditional cooking implements please every child. This is an old favourite found in many village fairs even today.

The wheels and bodies of these pulling toys are balls - a new design innovation coming out of workshops in Channapatna.

A push-and-pull toy for toddlers is competently made by simple artisans in Channapatna who love their craft.

A series of different sized coloured and plain balls make this ingenious movable toy.

A mini-sized wooden lacquered ladybird can be a toy, a souvenir or a gift item that could be turned into a button or a brooch.

Brightly painted mini ladybirds, slugs and other crawling insects make a collection of
souvenirs for any tourist.

A charming figure of half a pelican made by the talented toy makers of Channapatna.

The expression on the face of this miniature elephant head adds value to the high quality of workmanship involved in lathe-turning and lacquering such a small toy.

A child’s rattle based on an old folk toy popularly used in most rural homes.

Wooden mice gain mobility while sitting still on the shelf through the addition of a cord to parts of their torso, making their legs movable. Professional designers provide such innovative inputs to toy makers.

A variety of fun, colourful wooden stamps.

Combined with metallic embellishments, the wooden bead accessories look nothing short of fine jewellery!

Differently shaped and coloured wooden beads are designed to create a piece of costume jewellery.

Brilliantly coloured round chips are used for board games and even serve as a coffee table top decoration that is sure to throw light on Channapatna’s wood craft.

Colourfully lacquered bird figures become innovative game chips.

A simple, smoothly lacquered double coloured wooden bowl is reminiscent of the lacquering of Japan from where the technique was shared with artisans of Channapatna.

A wooden bowl with a lid made with the technique of merging and changing the colours on the surface of the object by changing the colour of the lacquer stick used.

A wooden coaster stand has a vigilant owl-like figure within its structure. In most cases the craft’s original association with toys is retained in the design as a decorative element.

The juxtaposition of plain and coloured wood gives an interesting element to this amusing pig.

A paper towel holder is designed for modern homes with the trademark Channapatna ‘fun’ element present.

Three owl design pencil holders made in Channapatna.

Candle stands retaining the deep Indian colour palette are some of the gift items that are exported, usually for the Christmas season.

A pair of candle stands that make popular gift items and sell well at trade fairs and local bazaars in large cities of India.

A pair of tea light holders have laser cut calligraphy in the Kannada script on the
lacquered surface as a new innovation.

A double headed lamp was designed for a major exhibition displaying calligraphy in
craft. This item from Channapatna met all international standards of workmanship.

A store in Bengaluru that highlights and promotes Channapatna wood craft products of the best designs and quality, including pieces from old traditional collections.

Well displayed products encourage the buyer to explore.

Channapatna wooden toy craft items in a store in a city are presented for wholesale and retail shoppers.

Key rings, napkin rings, wine/beer bottle holders, wall hooks, honey dippers, salt and pepper shakers, chopsticks, soap containers and containers for skin care products, are popular articles that have expanded Channapatna’s production from mere toys of local use, to sophisticated gifts that offer natural material, colours and heritage skills.

Read more about the toy making tradition of Channapatna here:

- Lathe-turned and Lacquered toys of Channapatna
- A Portrait Gallery of Channapatna Artisans