• As I was browsing the internet this morning, I came across a Vizag-based artist who had recently had an exhibition where the Indian Prime Minister had praised his work. This artisan makes wooden traditional toys with colored lacquer as his line of work.
• My parents introduced me to kondapalli and Nirmal toys, but I had never heard of the Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, village of Etikoppaka.
• Etikoppaka is renowned for its wooden toys painted with lacquer.
• I’m thrilled to be able to share these Etikoppaka toys from Andhra Pradesh, which are a centuries-old tradition.
• These traditional toys can be traced back to Etikoppaka, a small village on the banks of the Varaha River. This is a small village in the Andhra Pradesh state of Visakhapatnam.
• This village is well-known for its century-old tradition of wooden carvings and artifacts. Specifically, mythological figures, toys Harappan and Mohenjadaro shapes.

HISTORY

The tradition of making Etikoppaka toys was passed down from Nakkapalli, a village 25 kilometers away from Etikoppaka (originally known as Laccapalli) in the 1800s.  In the 1800s, the tradition of making Etikoppaka toys was passed down from Nakkapalli, a village 25 kilometers from Etikoppaka (originally known as laccapalli). Because of the abundance of suitable wood-producing trees used to make temple carts in the past, artisans migrated to Etikoppaka in the twentieth century. As landlords, the Rajas of Vijayanagaram served as catalysts. They turned it into a business so that the partisans could earn a living and support their families. These toys are made from ankudu, a soft and light wood. Bullock carts, wells, birds, and women are common depictions of rural life that they chose as their main subject. These toys are lacquered, and the coloring is done without the use of chemicals.

The Importance of Etikoppaka

Etikoppaka artisans have a long history of creating beautiful and colorful wooden toys. They make toys out of wood and color them with natural dyes derived from seeds, lacquer, bark roots, and leaves after shaping them to the desired patterns. This technique is known as turned wood lacquer craft. Lac, a colorless secretion of a variety of insects, is used by artisans. Lac is combined with dye.

USAGE

• Bowls, boxes, and toys were commonplace items in Etikoppaka. A bride’s collection of wooden bowls for kumkum, betel nuts, turmeric, and other aromatic substances can be found.
• ‘Lakkapidathalu,’ the colorful kitchen set for kids, which included cooking vessels, ladles, an imitation coal stove, a stone grinder, and even a well. These toys are safe for children.

Conclusion

This art has gone through many ups and downs. Because of deforestation, the required wood for making toys is no longer available, forcing them to shift to much cheaper plastic to make toys. Ankudu wood is best suited for making these toys. Artists changed with the times and began attending workshops and training courses for making natural dyes. Etikoppaka Toys has been designated as a GI in the category of handicrafts in the state of Andhra Pradesh. This gave them a boost, and let us also support this fading art form by purchasing authentic handcrafted toys and spreading the age-old traditions of making toys.

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