What is a tholu lamp?

A tholu lamp is a light made from the painted, translucent leather used in Tholu Bommalata, the shadow puppetry of Andhra Pradesh. When lit, the hide glows and the painted design turns luminous, like a puppet against a lamplit screen.

What is Tholu Bommalata?

Tholu Bommalata is the traditional leather shadow puppet theatre of Andhra Pradesh, performed with large painted hide figures against a backlit screen. The name is commonly rendered from Telugu as leather puppet dance.

What material is a tholu t-light made of?

The material is treated leather, prepared until it is thin and translucent, then painted by hand. For the exact specification of this piece, check the specifications section on the product page.

Should I use a candle or an LED tea light?

An LED tea light is the safest choice and lights the painted leather beautifully. If you use a real tea light, keep the flame well clear of the leather, never leave it unattended, and snuff it before the wax burns out.

What does the peacock motif mean?

The peacock motif is one of Indian folk art's most loved subjects, commonly read as a sign of grace, beauty and the arrival of rain. In the tholu tradition its fanned tail also gives the artist a naturally dramatic form to paint for light.

Which state does Tholu Bommalata come from?

Tholu Bommalata comes from Andhra Pradesh, where hereditary puppeteer families keep the craft alive. The village of Nimmalakunta in Anantapur district is its best-known centre.

How much do tholu bommalata lamps cost?

Tholu bommalata lamps cost anywhere from a few hundred rupees for a small t-light to several thousand for large wired floor and pendant lamps. Size, detailing and the hours of hand painting decide the price.

Is this a wired lamp or a candle holder?

This is a t-light piece, not a wired lamp, so there is no bulb, holder or cable to install. Drop in a tea light or LED candle and it is ready; that also makes it easy to move from shelf to table as the evening needs.

How do I care for painted leather decor?

Care for painted leather by keeping it away from direct sun, moisture and heat, and dusting with a soft dry cloth. Never use water, sprays or polish on the painted surface.

Who made this t-light?

This t-light was made by leather puppetry artisans of Andhra Pradesh and reaches you through Studio Moya. Individual makers are not named on the listing, so credit goes to the artisan cluster as a whole.

What is the history of Tholu Bommalata?

The history of Tholu Bommalata stretches back centuries in the Telugu-speaking region, where travelling troupes performed episodes from the epics through the night. Today the same families apply the craft to lamps, decor and wall art alongside performance.

Peacock Handpainted Tholu T-light

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Rs. 995

Product Details

A peacock spreads across this handpainted tholu t-light, its colours worked on the same treated leather that Andhra Pradesh's shadow puppeteers have used for generations. Unlit, it reads as a bold folk painting. Lit from within, the hide glows and the linework turns luminous, which is the whole point of the craft. It comes from the Tholu Bommalata tradition through Studio Moya, and each piece varies slightly because every stage is hand work.

Art TypeLeather Puppetry

Dimension32X22X6

Materials & Care

Keep it away from direct sunlight and moisture to preserve its vibrant colors and delicate craftsmanship. Clean gently with a soft, dry cloth.

Product Disclosure

SKUSM-LPLP-C

Style CodeSM-LPLP-C

HSN Code97030000

StateAndhra pradesh

Curated byStudio Moya

Each piece is handcrafted, so slight variations in colour, texture and dimension are natural and celebrate its handmade origin.

Where it glows best: A t-light is made for close, low settings. Place it on a console, a bookshelf, a bedside table or the centre of a dining spread, anywhere the eye rests at short range in the evening. It also earns its keep in festive corners: flanking a rangoli, beside brass diyas at Diwali, or grouped with plain candles where its painted glow can stand out. Keep it on a stable, heat-safe surface with space around it.

Pairing and palette: The peacock's saturated colours sit best against warm neutrals: cream, sand, terracotta and wood tones. It pairs naturally with brass, cane and handloom table linen. Against a busy background the painted leather loses its drama. Give it a calm setting.

Lighting it: An LED tea light is the simple, safe choice, and it shows off the translucent hide just as well as a flame. If you prefer a real tea light, place the candle carefully so the flame sits clear of the leather, never leave it burning unattended, and snuff it before the wax runs out. The glow through the painted hide is the whole performance. Even a small light transforms it.

Everyday care: Keep the piece away from direct sunlight, moisture and cooking steam, all of which age painted leather. Dust with a dry cloth. Off season, wrap it loosely in paper, not plastic, and store it somewhere dry.

The craft here is Tholu Bommalata, the leather shadow puppetry of Andhra Pradesh, whose best-known home is Nimmalakunta village in Anantapur district. For generations its puppeteer families have painted translucent hide figures and performed them against lamplit screens. A t-light like this one turns that stagecraft into a table object: the lamp becomes the screen.

Everything depends on the hide. The leather is cleaned, scraped and stretched, then dried until it is thin and stiff enough to pass light. That translucency is the test of good preparation, and it is what separates this work from ordinary painted leather.

The peacock is drawn next. The bird is a favourite of the tradition, its fanned tail giving the artist a natural circle of feather eyes to fill, and its long neck a clean, curving line to set against them. The artisan draws it freehand, planning the whole composition around how the bird will read once the light comes on and the hide turns from painted surface into glowing screen.

Painting for light is its own discipline. Colours are applied in bright, even fields thin enough to stay translucent, while the black outlines are kept dense so they hold the form once the piece glows. What looks bold by day turns stained-glass luminous by night, and both readings have to work.

Finally the painted hide is shaped and finished as a t-light. Every stage is hand work, which is why the feather count, the shades and the small flourishes differ a little from piece to piece.