Lustrous with folk charm

COLOURFUL, VIBRANT clay and papier mache dolls catch the eye of both adult and child at the Dolls Exhibition cum Sale currently on at the Khadi Gramodyog Bhavan, 844, Anna Salai. From a magnificent papier mache Parvati in her porcelain beauty to tiny clay Ganapatis, each doll has individuality. The exhibition literally hums with creativity as seen in the array of dolls, toys and animal forms.

The papier mache toys and dolls are the cynosure of all eyes at the exhibition. Ranging in price from Rs. 5 to Rs. 15,000, the dolls make a colourful splash of red, blue, green and orange. Drawn from mythology and folklore, the most eye catching ones are large figures of gods and goddesses. The papier mache doll makers of Tamil Nadu have refined their craft to a point where the figures have the smooth lustrous finish of porcelain. Among the most beautiful are an enormous figure of Goddess Rajarajeshwari, Lord Srinivasa and Ranganatha as well as slightly smaller images of Goddess Lakshmi and Saraswathi. The items are well-finished and adorned with gems, jewellery, etc.

The section of clay dolls varies from the run-of-the-mill to images of Goddess Sarawasthi and Andal rub shoulders with well- crafted Gitopadesa scenes, Siva-Parvathi and so on. Tiny clay animals and toys are also available in bright and earthy colours. Some beautiful Krishnanagar toys from West Bengal are on display. Realistic and full of charm, they are the last of a languishing breed. The exhibition-cum-sale concludes on October 10.

PUSHPA CHARI

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