Making of The Parrot Toy
The Toy Makers:
Wooden toy makers are the few craftsmen, who are pursuing the art of toy making. There are families of craftsmen who have been making wooden toys for over generations. A set of artists are only skilled to make the toys of wood and finish the structure for paint job and there are separate families of artists whose soul job is to paint the toys.
Raju, one of the craftsmen, lives in Khajua, Kashmiri Ganj, a semi urban area, with his wife and two children. He learnt the craft of making wooden toys from his father. He has a small workshop with a setup of cutting, drilling and filing machine connected with amotor. This is quite an interesting unit which runs through conveyor belts. He has a co-worker, who assists him in his work.
They do not sell the toys directly in market. They make toys on order by a contractor in bulk, using a sample provided by the contractor, who pays them for cutting and filing. They take orders from foreign clients, who give them designs and then fabricate for them.
Selecting the right kind of wood for toys is very important. ‘Kemah Chilbil’ and ‘Haldu’ wood is used for making toys but they largely use Chilbil. The kind of toys they make depends on clients. Like butterflies, elephants etc., decorative articles like wall hangings, photo frames and jewelleries like earrings are also made by them. But one of the most famous toys made by these artisans is “The Parrot-Toy”, which is adapted in different styles. The complete process of this famous toy “Parrot” is discussed in next sections.
House of Toy Maker:
Painter's House:
