Channapatna
About The Craft
In the 18th century Mysore’s ruler Tipu Sultan brought artisans from Persia to train the craftsmen in the region. This craft came to be known as Channapatna toys / Channapatna Lacqerwork. This traditional craft is protected as a geographical indication (GI) under the World Trade Organization, administered by the Government of Karnataka.
Channapatna toys are culturally unique and also eco-conscious in their making. The toys are made from soft ivory wood or Hale Mara from managed forests and finished with eco-friendly, non-toxic dyes. Vegetable dyes are used in the process for child-friendly usage. The dyes are most often made from resin extracted from trees and waxes.
We made tealights with the artisans using the same wood and same vegetable dyes / lacquer , in vivid colours.
