Who Turns the Toys of Channapatna? Indian turned wooden lac ware and the role of Fair Trade in the design and commercialisation of the craft

Abstract

The following abstract predominately addresses the theme Translations & Dialogues Across Local-Global Divides.

The hand-turned toys of Channapatna, India, fall from the lathe semi-finished, their bright coloured lac finish is applied while on the lathe. This paper examines how commercialisation of a highly specialised craft impacts on a group of craftspeople. The once thriving toy shops that line the streets of Channapatna (on the road from Mysore to Bangalore) compete for the few remaining customers. Designs can be moulded and changed according to the demands of the global market, but this compromises the craft and affects the community.

Historically the main products were toys. These objects were bought, played with and then thrown away, too every day for museums. The research draws on participative ethnography fieldwork in Channapatna and oral testimony interviews, along with product analysis. The history of the unique and skilled process of lac turnery is documented.

Published research on the consumption of craft items shows that they do not mainstream easily, due to the personal connections of craft made objects. As the lac ware of Channapatna hits the global market it can be seen that it leaves its craft’s history hidden. These new markets result in other changes such a mechanisation, centralised production and fewer jobs. The transition from the hand to power lathe excludes women, unless they are proactively trained. The physical changes to the lac ware are distinctive. There is an apparent break with the craft side of the lac ware, particularly within the traditional ritual and ceremonial roles. Today there is a huge range of products including beads, nesting dolls, whistles, fridge magnets and Christmas decorations.

The role of Fair Trade and crafts has also been mapped out, along with developments with regard to the new integration of cultural identity into the principles, adopted in Mombasa in 2011. The new Fair Trade Organisation label, being trialled by the World Fair Trade Organisation in 2013, also has potential application to Fair Trade craft products. There are two Fair Trade Organisations working in Channapatna. They aim to maintain employment of women, use sustainable materials, and preserve culture, whilst at the same time fulfilling the major requirement to develop sales, so that good wages can be earned by the maximum number of people. This then brings the challenge of selling to mainstream markets where an anonymous, less personal product, has a broader appeal. Fair Trade Organisations have to develop sales to ensure not only the livelihoods of the people of Channapatna, but also the future viability of these beautiful historic and much forgotten toys.