Kinhal Toys is a unique and culturally rich craft used to make hand painted wooden toys. The artists mainly paint these wooden crafts on themes, God and Goddesses of ‘Vaishanavism’ and ‘Shaivism’. The name of the artform is derived from a taluk called ‘Kinhal’ in Koppal District of North Karnataka.
The artists of Kinhal make idols for the temples, vahanas and palanquins for ceremonial processions to carry the deities. They also make idols for homes and shops for Dasara festivals and other occasions.
Historically the art of Kinhal forms an integral part of the Vijayanagar painting and sculpture style. The craftsman of Kinhal have drawn inspiration from the murals of Lepakshi temple in AP and from Pampatheswara temple at Hampi, in Karnataka.
The small toys are made of both light weight wood as well as hard wood. Polki wood (White Catamaran Tree) is most commonly used in this craft. Hale or Halugathi wood (Ivory wood) is used for articles in which turning work is involved like cradles. Hira Bevu (Neem) is used in making planks and pedestals for images.
Wood is cut into blocks according to size, the final figure is normally made assembling several pieces. No machine or lathe is used and all pieces are hand made. The component pieces are smoothened and then assembled using nails and adhesives. Wires are used for legs and horns of animals, which are directly fixed.
Sticky dough called ‘Kitta’ made out sari, sawdust and jute rags is then daubed on the articles roughly and allowed to dry. It helps the components to hold together for long and avoids them falling out. Besides, the layer of kitta on wood sets right all mal-formations.
Pieces of thin cloth are pasted on it by using sari, a paste made out of crushed tamarind seeds. Sari acts as an adhesive. Care is taken to paste the cloth in such a way that no wrinkle is formed. To improve the grip of the paste, the cloth is rubbed with a round stone with smooth surface.
Bilidu is a white paste made out of limestone, chalk powder, white stone are powdered and added with water. Bilidu is then applied on cloth by means of brush. Three coatings of bilidu are applied, each coating being applied after the previous one has sufficiently dried up. Bilidu serves as a base for painting.
Colours used by artisans are few in number. Natural colours, Synthetic colour powders and oil colour tubes are used. Enamel paints are used for outlines such as lips, eyes, eyebrows etc.
Silver colour called ‘lejjawara’ is made with combination of tin powder and tree gum. For Gold colour, in the lejjawara, French polish mixed with Kesari is added and applied. Technique of making silver colour paint ‘lejjawara’ is unique to Kinhal Toys art form.
Paints are prepared and then applied on the figure by means of brush. Thin file of varnish is also applied, which helps to keep the gloss of the colours and also to preserve the picture. After completing the painting, eyes, mouth and such other features are marked and final touches are given to the figure.
Guchu a mixture made out of bilidu, liquid gum and glue is used in embossing on the figure after the finish like bangles worns on the wrists, chains around the necks, earring and other ornaments.
Distinctiveness of Kinhal Toys lies in it being a folk or village craft and it creates local and rural employment and livelihood. These crafts are made to cater to the needs during festivals as per the requirement of that particular occasion / event.
GI Tag Registration Date : 06 January 2012
GI Tag Number : 213
Certificate Number : 165
Geographical Area : Karnataka
Special Cover Release Date : 31 August 2021
Cancellation : Kinhal 583 230
Type : GI Tag Cover
Cover Identification Number : KTK/27/2021
2600 Nos of covers are issued and each cover is numbered.
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