Tipu, launched by the London-based design studio Tiipoi, makes its debut with an exquisite kitchen collection. This range includes handcrafted salt and pepper mills, baking pins, and more, all made in the wooden toy-making town of Channapatna, located just 60 kilometers southwest of Bangalore in southwestern India.
Channapatna is renowned for its traditional and advanced small-scale industries, particularly hand-carved and lacquered toys. The craft's roots can be traced back to the 11th and 12th centuries, while its current form began to flourish in the latter half of the 18th century when Tipu Sultan, the local ruler at the time, invited Persian artisans to train local craftspeople in toy-making techniques.
Tipu Sultan is also known for his military strategies and innovations in warfare, including the early use of rockets in combat. Additionally, he implemented several administrative and economic reforms, boosting trade and industry within his kingdom. Today, he is celebrated as a national hero and a symbol of resistance against colonialism in India, renowned for his bravery and dedication to the independence of his kingdom.
The Tipu collection features a range of functional and playful items, including a salt and pepper mill, a pinch pot, and two rolling pins (with the thinner one specifically designed for Indian breads like chapatis). With their rounded bodies, geometric blocks of warm colours, and a circular mill handle inspired by children's rattles and stacking games, these pieces add a playful touch to any kitchen.
Designed by Tiipoi in collaboration with London-based artist and designer Moe Redish, who specializes in wood and glass work, the collection is crafted by skilled artisans from Channapatna.
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Creating the wooden objects in the Tipu collection was not a simple task, as each item is unique and subtly different while needing to accommodate a standard internal milling mechanism. The production of one pepper mill takes approximately half a day from start to finish.
Once shaped, the objects are lacquered using a centuries-old resin, called lac, derived from deposits left on tree bark by the Tachadria lacca insect. Natural vegetable dyes made from turmeric, manjistha (Indian madder), kanchi kumkum (a blend of turmeric and slate lime), and indigo are added to the resin over a hot charcoal flame, resulting in the rich yellow, red, orange, and bluish-black hues displayed across the collection. The glossy finish of each piece is achieved by polishing them with screw pine leaves, a traditional technique that utilizes the leaves' non-stick fibrous texture.
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The manufacturing process of the Tipu collection is both artisanal and highly refined, drawing on an existing closed-loop craft ecosystem that has operated for over two centuries. Each step in the process is carefully defined, from sourcing the wood to artisans who operate the lathes, to those who mix, paint, and polish the pieces.
The locally sourced wood, derived from hale mara trees—also known as ivory trees—is informally collected from the edges of fields, forests, and villages surrounding Channapatna rather than from commercial cultivation. This softwood is ideal for carving, abundant, and renewable, as the trees regenerate in about 5 to 6 years.
The artisans involved in creating the Tipu collection are part of Artisanpride, an artisan-owned collective that unites men and women in the Channapatna craft community. The initiative aims to attract new talent, especially women, and generate jobs in an industry that is declining but still employs around 500 to 700 artisans.
Artisanpride is a member of the World Fair Trade Organization and adheres to its ten principles. Since the timber is produced without pesticides and the dyes used are natural, there are no VOCs or other toxic substances in the production, making the objects naturally food-safe. VOC or Volatile organic compounds include a variety of chemicals, some of which may have short- and long-term adverse health effects.
The collection will also be available to buy online on tiipoi.com and in selected stores worldwide.
