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Natungram Wooden Dolls are a type of wooden doll, popular in India, especially in the Bardhaman district[1] of West Bengal state. The art of making wooden dolls is a traditional practice amongst some cultures of India, and Natungram dolls are especially culturally significant, as they are associated directly with the goddess Lakshmi. Other examples of such dolls include the famous Gour-Nitai, Krishna dolls, and Royal couple dolls.
| Wooden dolls of Natungram | |
|---|---|
 Colored Figurines and Owls | |
| Origin Place | Notungram, West Bengal, India |
| Shape | Small human figures, owls |
| Usage | Decoration, religious association with Lakshmi |
| Variants | Owl, Gour Nitai, Jagannath |
History
edit
The artists of Natungram worked first in stone carving, with the patronage of the local Rajas of Bardhaman. However, after the fall of the Raj following the abolition of the Zamindari System in 1951, the craftsmen faced difficulties. Many left the stone carving industry and began crafting fine arts and wooden works - though number of carvers are declining again due to the inefficiency of wood carving in comparison to plastic and metal.
A common, local family name is Sutradhar due to the surname's association with carpentry and woodcarving.[2]
Construction
editDolls are frequently made out of Gamhar wood, Mango wood, or Shimul wood.[3] Around 51 families living in West Bengal are involved in doll making. All members of the family are involved in the doll making process. Separate sets of work are earmarked for the artisan. The males are skilled in wood carving and the women do the colouring.
With changing times and the influx of metal, plastic, and machine-made goods, traditional woodcraft as art has largely disappeared. Previously, the art of making wooden dolls and toys was prevalent in many districts in West Bengal but now the craft has been kept alive in only in a few places.
References
edit- ^ "Natungram: A place for Cultural tourism of rural Bengal". toureast.in. Retrieved 2018-01-25.
- ^ "Natungram of Bardhaman district is the hub for wooden doll making in West Bengal". Hand Made Toys. 2016-08-06. Retrieved 2018-01-25.
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-04-06. Retrieved 2018-01-25.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)