Toys and Stoneware: Artistic Heritage of Ancient India

Introduction

Toys and stoneware in India were more than mere playthings or utensils; they embodied cultural values, craftsmanship, and artistic expression. From terracotta figurines to utilitarian pottery, they reflect the diverse and vibrant heritage of the era.

Various Types Of Toys

• Earliest Evidences: The earliest evidence of toy carts dates back to the Harappan civilization. 
• Sites: Archaeological sites like Alamgirpur, Ambkheri, Kalibangan, and Lothal have yielded models for crafting toy carts from copper, bronze, and terracotta. 
• Similar cart models are found at early historic sites like Atranjikhera, Nagarjunakonda, Sambhar, Sonapur, Ujjain, and Brahmpuri.
• Rajasthan is renowned for colourful cloth dolls and stuffed toys.
• Assam’s traditional dolls are made from pith or Indian cork.
• Mysore and Channapatna are known for lacquered wood toys.
• Kondapalli in Andhra Pradesh is famous for using local softwood, Ponki, to create the popular Ambari Hathi toy.
• Etikoppaka toys or Etikoppaka Bommalu: These are wooden-made toys originating from Andhra Pradesh. To protect the wood, they are coated with lacquer.
• Famous Tirupati dolls of Andhra Pradesh  were made of Redwood.
• Kinnal (also spelled Kinhal) toys are from Karnataka, and date back to the 15th and 16th centuries. The toys were patronized by the kings of the Vijayanagara Empire and then later by the nawab of Koppal.
• Laiphadibi dolls are the traditional cloth dolls of the Meitei people of Manipur. 

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Stoneware

• South Indian towns are known for exceptional stonework, utilising sandstone, red stone, and granite. 
• The Mauryan Period showcases lifelike sculptures and architectural facades, evident in monuments such as the rock-cut caves of Ajanta and Ellora, Khajuraho’s erotic sculptures, and Buddhist carvings in Sanchi and Bharhut.
• The monolithic rock-cut temple at Masrur in Kangra district is a notable example in hilly areas.
• The Mughal period shifted from stone to marble stonework, focusing on Pietra Dura Work, which involves inlaying colourful stones on marble.
• Rajasthan is a major centre for procuring renowned ‘Sang-e-Marmar’ or white Makrana marble.
• Jhansi in Uttar Pradesh specialises in crafting articles from dark brown stone Sang-e Rathak.

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