Etikoppaka Bommalu — lacquered wooden toys from Etikoppaka, Andhra Pradesh. Hand-turned on a lathe and coloured with natural lac dyes, these GI-tagged pieces have soft, rounded forms and a distinctive glow. Shop authentic Etikoppaka toys, dolls and figurines online, delivered across India.
Etikoppaka pieces are turned rather than carved. The wood, known locally as ankudu, is a soft pale timber that grows around the village. It is mounted on a lathe and shaped while it spins, which is why the forms are rounded and symmetrical instead of angular.
The colour goes on at the same lathe. A stick of lac is held against the spinning piece, the friction melts it, and the colour is burnished straight into the surface with a leaf or a cloth. The finish is the lac itself rather than a coat of varnish over paint, and that is what gives these toys their soft, waxy glow.
The dyes come from seeds, bark, roots and flowers rather than synthetic pigment. Because the colour is sealed into the lac instead of sitting on top as a chemical paint, Etikoppaka pieces have long been made as toys for young children.
The rounded shapes and natural colours make Etikoppaka pieces a common choice for younger children, and the smaller spinning tops, rattles and animal figures work well as everyday gifts.
Larger turned bowls, boxes and decorative sets suit shelf and desk decor. Wholesale enquiries are welcome, with delivery across India.