Kondapalli toys are made of softwood, known as Tella Poniki. Apart from Poniki wood, sawdust, tamarind seed powder, enamel gums and watercolours are used in making these toys. After carving the toy on wood, a paste made of tamarind, wood and sawdust is used for giving further shapes and attaching limbs etc., to the toy. This paste is also used for giving the final touch. The toy is then left for a day or two to dry,after sudda (White lime) colour is painted on the toy.
When the toys are dried, artists colour the toy. Two sets of Kondapalli toys are most prominent. The village set constitutes toys of various occupations of people in the village. The artists choose colors symbolizing the character of the image. The influence of Islamic idiom is prominent in some of the toys.
It is believed that these artists had migrated from Rajasthan. This can be known from their craft, which has the influence of 17th Century Rajasthani style in features(pointed nose and veil over the head).
Where to Buy
Lepakshi Handicrafts Emporium, Gandhi Nagar, Vijayawada
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