The Ambasamudram Choppu Saman (wooden toy) makers in Tirunelveli are eyeing the global market and as the initial step, an application has been filed seeking Geographical Indication (GI) tag.
August 03, 2021
Ambasamudram Bharani Mara Varna Kadasal Artisans’ Welfare Association has applied for a Geographical Indication (GI) tag for Ambasamudram Choppu Saamaan (wooden toys).
As reported in a leading daily, the MSME Intellectual Property Facilitation Centre of NABARD’s Madurai Agri-Business Incubation Forum acted as the facilitator in the filing for the GI tag.
The Ambasamudram toys are known for their vibrant colour, smooth texture, and simplicity of design. ‘Choppu Saamaan’ are wooden toys, including miniature kitchen utensils, tables and chairs. The craft is said to have been in practice since the 18th century. The wooden toys are made using seasoned wood, natural colours and screw pine leaves. Locally known as Ambasamudram kadasal choppu, these wooden toys are famous for their quality, variety and colours.
Besides seasoned wooden logs, materials like – natural colours, lac resin, and thaalampoo are used as inputs to make these toys, said IPR attorney and GI agent Mr P Sanjai Gandhi, who has filed the GI application on behalf of Ambasamudram Bharani Mara Varna Kadasal Artisans’ Welfare Association in Tirunelveli district, Tamil Nadu.
Ambasamudram wooden toys stand apart from other innovative toys because of their eco-friendly and non-toxic vegetable colour dyes. The toys are ideal for children as they are not hazardous, simple, vibrantly coloured, safe and attractive.
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“Wooden toys are highly durable and can last for generations and safe to play with and cannot break into small pieces which a child could swallow, said Sanjai Gandhi. Since only natural colours are used, even if a child chews or sucks, there will be no harm done, he added.
The sales of these toys are exceptionally high in the months of September and October, i.e., during the time of Navarathri Golu, the festival of toys and dolls, celebrated in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.
