Kondapalli toys or Kondapalli Bommalu are delightful expressions of art of rich traditional value made of the wood of `Tella Poniki,' also called white sander, found in the forests and hills adjoining Kondapalli village, located about 20 km from Vijayawada in the Krishna district of A.P.
The wood is processed and carved into the desired shape and size.
Apart from Poniki wood, sawdust, tamarind seed powder, enamel gums and watercolours are used in making these toys. After carving the toy on wood, a paste made of tamarind, wood and sawdust is used for giving further shapes and attaching limbs etc., to the toy. This paste is also used for giving the final touch. The toy is then left for a day or two to dry,after sudda (White lime) colour is painted on the toy. When the toys are dried, artists colour the toy. Two sets of Kondapalli toys are most prominent. The village set constitutes toys of various occupations of people in the village. The artists choose colors symbolizing the character of the image.
Bahudara is an important tool used in carving the toys. The themes chosen are mostly rural life, mythological figures and animals and birds. Elephant ambari, toddy tree and Dashaavatar are the most famous Kondapalli toys.
The wood is processed and carved into the desired shape and size.
Apart from Poniki wood, sawdust, tamarind seed powder, enamel gums and watercolours are used in making these toys. After carving the toy on wood, a paste made of tamarind, wood and sawdust is used for giving further shapes and attaching limbs etc., to the toy. This paste is also used for giving the final touch. The toy is then left for a day or two to dry,after sudda (White lime) colour is painted on the toy. When the toys are dried, artists colour the toy. Two sets of Kondapalli toys are most prominent. The village set constitutes toys of various occupations of people in the village. The artists choose colors symbolizing the character of the image.
Bahudara is an important tool used in carving the toys. The themes chosen are mostly rural life, mythological figures and animals and birds. Elephant ambari, toddy tree and Dashaavatar are the most famous Kondapalli toys.
