Kinhal Wood Carving

Kinhal Wood Carving

Kinhal wood carving is the lacquerware woodcraft that takes its name from a small town in Koppal district. The craft was highly patronized by the Vijayanagar kings. Using a paste of tamarind seeds and pebbles to stick carved parts of wood, the Chitragars or artists create exquisite figurines and idols. A mixture of pebble powder and liquid gum is then used to sculpt ornaments and jewelry on these figures. The breathtaking designs of the Kinhal art can be easily differentiated from other forms of art by its vibrant colors and intricate designs. Kinhal toys have been given the Geographical Indication (GI) tag by the World Trade Organization. Kinnal has an immensely rich artistic heritage. It was once a flourishing center for crafts, the most well-known being exquisite carvings in wood. The famous mural paintings in the Pampapateshwara Temple, and the intricate work on the wooden chariot at Hampi, are said to be the work of the ancestors of the Kinhal artisans of today. The artisans are called chitragara. Lightweight wood is used for the toys. The paste used for joining the various parts is made of tamarind seeds and pebbles. Jute rags, soaked, slivered into pieces, dried, powdered, and mixed with saw dust and tamarind seed paste is made into kitta. A mixture of pebble powder paste with liquid gum is used for embossing the ornamentation and jewelry on the body of the figure. Once the components of the figure are assembled, kitta is applied by hand all over, and small pieces of cotton are stuck on it with the tamarind paste. Over this is applied the pebble paste which forms the base for the application of paint.