Channapatna Lacquered Wooden Dolls Natural Dyes Pair

Channapatna, outside Bangalore in Karnataka, has been the home of lacquered wood toys since Tipu Sultan invited Persian craftspeople here in the 18th century. The color palette has not changed: turmeric for yellow, kumkuma for red, indigo for black-blue. The wood spins on a lathe; the lacquer is applied while it turns.

These two ornamental dolls are handcrafted in Channapatna, Karnataka, using an artisanal lacquered wood tradition that produces color from natural pigments, turmeric, kumkuma, and indigo, combined to make orange, green, and the particular warm black that characterizes this craft. The lacquer is applied by hand to spinning wood and sets as a smooth, slightly tactile surface.

Hang them by the string they come with, a window, a doorway, a hook beside a mirror. They are light and slightly glossy and catch eye without demanding attention. The colors will not fade in the way synthetic dyes do.

Channapatna Lacquered Wood · Natural Pigment Dyes · Handmade in Karnataka · Lathe-Turned

Care Instructions

• Wipe with a dry, soft cloth.
• Do not immerse in water or use liquid cleaners.
• Remove wax residue with a soft cloth while still warm.
• Polish metal surfaces occasionally with a soft brass cloth.