The Exciting Tale of Indigo

Natural indigo dye produces a distinctive blue color that synthetic dyes simply cannot replicate. Historically, this natural pigment is extracted from the leaves of various plant species including wood, indigo, and polygonum. These plants contain the greatest concentration of blue dye molecules, making them ideal to use for the meticulous extraction process.

India was the earliest major center for the production and processing of indigo dye. The Indigo fera tinctoria species of the indigo plant was largely domesticated in the country before the final product—which is the indigo dye—made its way to the Romans and the Greeks, who valued it as a luxury. Of the three primary colors, blue was considered the rarest and most regal mainly because it can only be generated from a particular species of plant (unlike red and yellow, which are easily derived from many kinds of flora and fauna).

Exactly how do the green leaves of the indigo plant produce the blue hue of the indigo dye? The extraction process is equally complex and magical. Indigo farming involves a number of meticulous steps that should be carried out with precise timing. After the leaves are harvested, they are soaked in water and left to ferment. This causes the pigment to detach from glucose, leaving indigo white in the water as the leaves are taken out. Only when the leaves are fermented and exposed to air does the blue color of the dye appear. The proper whisking motion is required so that the blue color will settle at the bottom, forming a watery clay. The sludge of blue pigment dye is then sundried or heated, and then molded into pigment cakes.

In the early 1900s, over 30,000 acres of land were reserved for the cultivation of Indigo, producing and shipping 4,000 tons of the natural blue dye per year. Today, however, synthetic dyes are becoming more prevalent, pushing aside the tradition that has been kept alive for hundreds of generations. Indigo farming in India has since dwindled, leaving only one family currently engaged in the trade. Fortunately, there are companies that still support its legacy and tradition, keeping natural indigo dye alive through their traditionally produced and designed shirts, sarees, and apparels.

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Channapatna - The Craft Story

First popularized by the ruler of Mysore Tipu Sultan, Channapatna toy-making and wood crafting has a long and rich history. It is a tradition that has been kept around for centuries. Even now, many artisans make a living out of handcrafting vibrant wooden toys and similar products like home décor, women’s jewelry, and accessories.

It’s been said that Channapatna is a 200-year old craft introduced to India when Tipu Sultan invited Persian artists to teach the art to local Indian artisans way back in the 1750s. Since then, the art has been passed down, generation after generation, particularly in the Channapatna town of Karnataka. Channapatna is popularly known as Gombegala ooru or “The Toy City,” being home to artisans and artisan families that still practice the toy craft.

This particular technique of wood crafting involves artisans shaping wood into various shapes in order to make all kinds of playthings, ranging from dolls and balls to bangles and board games. The process requires two major raw materials in the form of Aale mara or ivory wood and lacquer sticks. Wood is traditionally cut into 15 or 20-millimeter sizes and dried above fire in order to remove moisture. Once dry, the wood is shaped and turned using hand-operated lathe tools, chisels, and other shaping implements. Nowadays, mechanical tools that don’t require rotation by hand make the process a lot faster and easier. Color is applied using lacquer sticks, which are spread and glossed using the natural heat of a palm leaf, rubbing against the turning wood. The individually shaped parts are then cut and assembled into completely child-safe, non-toxic, and environment friendly wooden toys.

The town of Channapatna is one of the most popular places where these wooden toys are made. Many local artisans partake in Channapatna toy-making as their main means of livelihood. They consider the art an important tradition that should still be passed on from generation to generation, especially in this day and age of mass manufactured and cheaper look-alikes. These artisans make it a point to teach their kids the craft so that the tradition of toy-making can live on.

Blog Source URL: https://www.studioenoy.com/blog/channapatna-the-craft-story/