The Thanjavur doll is a type of traditional Indian bobblehead or roly-poly toy made of terracotta material and is a part of Thanjavur's traditional arts.
The centre of gravity and total weight of the doll is concentrated at its bottom-most point, generating a dance-like continuous movement with slow oscillations. It is quite interesting to note how the doll's centre of gravity was identified and used during the early days.
The round bottomed toy comes in sitting, standing and rotating types. These toys are traditionally handmade, finished with detailed, painted exteriors. The doll is mostly made of wood, white stone powder, tapioca and paper. There are two versions of the doll – the tilting version and the bobble head version. Generally, these creations are sold in pairs, where you will find a queen and king.
The upper part of the doll is hollow whereas the bottom of the doll is structured such that it is heavy, curved (with a hemispherical base), and also designed in such a way that it will not topple over when external force is applied: it oscillates slowly and comes back to a stable position. These oscillations generate a dance-like appearance in the dolls, with slow oscillations and the center of gravity working with the total weight of the doll for it to move beautifully.
GI Tag Registration Date : 09 September 2008
GI Tag Number : 96
Certificate Number : 89
Geographical Area : Tamil Nadu
Special Cover Release Date : 03 September 2015
Cancellation : Thanjavur 613 001
Type : Special Cover
Cover Identification Number : TN/26/2015
Enlarged View of Illustration
Enlarged View of Cancellation
Image of Postage Stamp issued by India Post is furnished below, where in the Thanjavur doll is depicted on the left
Postage Stamp Issued on 14 November 2010
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