Channapatna industrial visit (Toy manufacturing )
On 23rd December 2022, Friday, we visited Bharath Arts and crafts manufacturing and design unit in channapatna. There were a wide variety of toys, decoratives (all made out of wood) and other accessories that we crafted by some very skillful people.
Bharath Art and Crafts, located in the small town of Channapatna in the state of Karnataka, India, is a center for traditional lacquer ware and wooden toy making. On a visit to this quaint town on December 23rd, 2022, I was struck by the rich history and cultural significance of these art forms.
The art of toy making dates back to the 6th century in India, and Channapatna has been a hub for this craft for centuries. The coated objects are intricately carved and painted, resulting in beautiful and ornate pieces of art.
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. The art underwent dramatic changes over the years. Later, a man by the name of Bavas Miyan 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
