ASPECTS OF VILLAGE LIFE [PAINTED WOODEN TOYS FROM MYSORE, INDIA]

Mysore: The Mysore Toys Company., [c.1938].. Twelve colourful lacquer-painted wooden figures tied with string to two card mounts, with printed titles in English and Kannada beneath. Contained within their original decorative card box with printed paper title label to the lid. Original folding advertising leaflet loosely laid in. Condition is very good, the figures remaining bright and undamaged (having never been removed from the box), with just a chip to the corner of one of the card sheets. The box with a little splitting and wear is otherwise in good order. A charming Indian educational toy created by M. Veerappa (1901-1969), artist and proprietor of the Mysore Toys Company, comprising twelve boldly-painted figures of Southern Indian village occupations. The figures (of both men and women) depict a singer, snake-charmer, carpenter, potter, fruit-seller, grinder, spinner, goldsmith, artist, palm climber, matt weaver, and plough driver.

Founded as a small-scale handicraft enterprise, the Mysore Toys Company became a major exporter of traditionally-made toys, notably to the United States. The present set, accompanied an advertising leaflet bearing various notes of praise from assorted Indian, British, and American educational organisations, companies, and journals, and with "4/- Box" noted in manuscript on one of the card sheets, was quite possibly sent as a sample to a potential overseas retailer. As indicated by the leaflet, the wooden figures seemed to have served a dual purpose, appealing both to a domestic, educational market ("The [Mysore] School Board Officers are requested to consider the possibility of purchasing and supplying a set of toys to all the Primary Schools under their control"), and an overseas toy market: "These beautiful little figures of Indian village life are indeed a novelty in this country, and you could hardly have selected a souvenir of greater appeal"; "The figures were removed from your carton and placed on display in our showroom here in Chicago and a great deal of interest was evidenced by many of our local customers"; "These gifts from Mysore to the United States establish a friendly intimacy which we thoroughly appreciate. Here in this country we know so very little about your people and your country that these souvenirs, which show the particular craft of you people, always arose a great deal of interest".

An appealing set.