John W. Lewman Toy Designer www.toymakerpress.com
Publishers of fun to make wood toy projects and plans
Kondapalli toys are the most recent category of handicrafts to obtain Geographical Indications (GI) protection in India, being only the second handicraft from the state of Andhra Pradesh to receive such protection. Made in the village of Kondapalli on National Highway No. 9, 25 km from Vijaywada, this art form can be traced back to the times of Sri Krishna Deva Raya.
Toy making in Kondapalli is an intricate process which even to this day is done only by hand by using a special type of wood known as ‘Tella Poniki’ or white sander, grown specially in the lands earmarked for the purpose in villages surrounding Kondapalli. Each organ of the body is separately carved after the wood is seasoned and cut to appropriate sizes, and joined together with an adhesive paste derived from tamarind seeds. A coating of ‘sudda’ (white lime) is given over the surface. It is then placed on a ‘kumpati’ (charcoal fire) to allow the moisture to evaporate, leaving the toy firm and solid. A cloth is then fixed on top of the makku-covered toy, further reinforcing the strength. The toys are then coated with a primer and the distinctive colours are then applied using a goat brush. Vegetable dyes, oil paints or enamel paints are used for the distinctive colouring of these toys depending on whether they are to be exported sold within India, or are to be used for special occasions respectively. Read More.
![caseyt37[1]](http://toywizard.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/caseyt371.jpg "caseyt37[1]")
