Bamboo toys are made from split, cut and shaped bamboo — a material that is straight-grained, light, strong, and abundant in tropical regions. Traditional bamboo toys include whistles, flutes, small water-wheels, jointed birds, rattles, pop-guns, snake-like flexible chains, and simple wheeled vehicles. Bamboo needs little tooling: a sharp knife, some string or rattan for lashing, and simple mineral or vegetable paint.
The material's natural hollow structure makes it ideal for whistles and pipes, its springiness makes it ideal for bows and jointed toys, and its light weight makes it ideal for kite frames and small vehicles. Most traditional bamboo toys are made by rural craftsmen using bamboo grown within a few miles of the workshop, and sold at village weekly markets.
Explore this craft by country
Each country page describes how this tradition is practised there — its own names, materials, workshops and living makers.