Wooden Puppet (Koyya Bommalu)

National Crafts Museum & Hastkala Academy

Title : Wooden Puppet (Koyya Bommalu)

Accession No : 84/118

A puppet from Andhra Pradesh with an elaborate head gear inlayed with small colourful stones. The face has sharp eyebrows, large eyes and a thick moustache. The temple of the puppet is broad. The dress is resembling the Kuchipudi style. The chest of the dress is elaborately decorated. The feet of the puppet are bare, and do not have any shoes. There is an additional skirt-like robe around the waist of the puppet.

Gallery

84118A.jpg
84118B.jpg
84118C.jpg

Source

  • RepositoryNational Crafts Museum and Hastkala Academy
  • CollectionMuseum Collection

Provenance

  • CountryIndia
  • StateAndhra Pradesh

Period

  • Start DateMid 20th century

Condition

  • ConditionPoor
  • RemarksOrnament, paints missing at places, Clothes torn badly.
  • Action NoteCR

Dimensions

  • Measurement (CMS)84 x 27.5 x 12
  • Weight (GRMS)0.00

Significance

  • Socio economicToday, there are many troupes and traditional families performing Koyya Bommalata, some of whom are master puppeteers recognised in their communities and sometimes nationally for their contribution to the art of puppetry.
  • Artistic"Traditional string puppet theatre of Andhra Pradesh, called Koyya Bommalata, Chekka Bommalata, Kathaibommalata, Keelu Bommatlatam or Sutram Bommalu in different regional dialects. Bommalu meaning 'puppet' is common to all. The word Koyya or Chekka means 'Wood'. Just as other forms of puppetry and shadow theatre, Koyya Bommalata brings to life episodes from the two epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. The puppets have a wooden torsos sculpted from a single piece of wood, have joints at the shoulders and hips. The strings are attached to a triangular shaped control. Usually, the puppets are painted with vegetable colours and dressed in cloth."

Description

  • DescriptionA puppet from Andhra Pradesh with an elaborate head gear inlayed with small colourful stones. The face has sharp eyebrows, large eyes and a thick moustache. The temple of the puppet is broad. The dress is resembling the Kuchipudi style. The chest of the dress is elaborately decorated. The feet of the puppet are bare, and do not have any shoes. There is an additional skirt-like robe around the waist of the puppet.
  • Inscription/Markings No
  • Referencehttps://wepa.unima.org/en/koyya-bommalata/
  • KeywordPuppet, Kuchipudi, Traditional, Male, Theatre, Art, Kathputli, Bommalu, Bommalata, Koyya