Description

Our wooden dolls are 100% handcrafted by our local artists of Nutangram, located in Bardhaman district of West Bengal which is one of the prominent locations where wooden dolls and wooden figurines are made. Bardhaman has a legacy of rich heritage and the artists, known as Bhaskar (sculptor) and Sutradhar (narrator or story teller) express themselves through their traditional art of wooden doll making. This place has resurrected the age old art of wooden doll making for which West Bengal is known for. The artist takes a single piece of seasoned wood which is then chiselled by hand and cut in a specific length. The artisan uses mango wood, bombax ceiba, goomar teak, sugar-apple wood, Alstonia scholaris wood for making these dolls.
Then comes the final work of painting which the artist does with utmost meticulousness; care is taken to paint them in bright colours. These dolls have a distinctive ethnic feel which is particular to this region. It’s noteworthy that the duties are earmarked for each artisan – the men folk are assigned with the task of wood curving and chiselling which the duties for giving the final touch to the dolls like colouring are taken care of by the womenfolk of the families. They use intricate motifs and spellbinding designs to decorate their creations. Colours used are fabric colours and oil paints. The popular of the dolls that are made are a pair of owlets that has its roots in the Hindu religion. According to the Sanatana Dharma, owl is the Vahana or carrier of Mata Lakshmi, the Goddess of Wealth and Fortune. Hence the owl is revered and worshipped and the artists of Nutangram continue crafting them till this day, painting them in traditional yellow, red and green colours; black colour is used to paint the eyes and the outlines. Wooden figurines of Lord Krishna and Sri Radhika and various other Hindu Gods and Goddesses are another favourite subject of the artists. They also make wooden soldier dolls that are thought to have been introduced by the kings who ruled the Kingdom of Burdwan (1657 to 1995). Since every piece of art is handcrafted, they are genuinely matchless with an unsophisticated beauty and charm. Our aim is to be by our artists in every possible way so that they can continue their traditional art of wooden doll making for generations to come. We also request you to buy products crafted by our artists and show your patronage towards their art.