Etikoppaka Lacquer Toy Turning Visakhapatnam Andhra Pradesh

Etikoppaka is a village on the banks of the Varaha river in Visakhapatnam district of Andhra Pradesh where the Etchapolu community of wood turners produce small lacquered toys and decorative objects using locally grown soft Ankudu (Wrightia tinctoria) wood. The craft is entirely natural — no synthetic materials are used in traditional production. Wood is turned on a bow lathe while the craftsperson holds a stick of lac (natural resin secreted by lac insects on host trees) against the spinning wood: the friction melts the lac, which adheres to the surface and is spread by a cloth for a smooth coating. Distinct colours — red, black, yellow, orange — are applied in successive layers and burnished. Colour derives from natural sources: turmeric for yellow, vegetable lac for red, lamp black for black, and combinations for green and orange. Finished toys include small animals, birds, dolls, miniature fruits and vegetables, spinning tops, and rattle toys for children. The complete ban on synthetic dyes and chemicals makes Etikoppaka toys safe for infants and prized by conscious consumers. GI tag awarded in 2017. Around 500 families in Etikoppaka village and surrounding hamlets practice the craft. The Andhra Pradesh Handicrafts Development Corporation channels export of Etikoppaka toys to the USA and European fair trade buyers. Contemporary adaptation produces miniature kitchen sets, magnetic fridge decorations, and pen stands for urban retail.