Rural Life

Design Resource

Traditional Toys of Kondapalli

The Craft of Wooden Toys

J. N. Somya

Rural Life

“The toys have a definite grammar of colour composition of their own and a reflection of native rural life of the Telugus.”
- LANCO official

Kondapalli toys are centred around the different vocations common to rural life through a series of separate scenes and human figures.

“In India, the oldest toys belong to the 5000-year-old Harappan civilization. these toys were made natural materials like clay, wood and stone. they depicted ordinary men, women, animals, birds, fruits and vegetables as well as the important professionals who existed in those times - the potter, carpenter and farmer, among others. And these ancient toys are surprisingly similar to the handmade toys of a later date.”
- Sushama Shetty

The set of 24 human figures called Village people set is sold since the time Kondapalli toys have been in existence. These toys still speak the professions of then villagers - fishermen, priests, tribal people, farmers, musicians, water bearers etc. These toys have a basic body structure with different elements (music instruments, tools and clothing).

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Traditional Toys of Kondapalli