Kashmir Handicrafts ---- I

Kashmir is famous not only for its sights and scenes, mountains and valleys, flora and fauna but also for its exquisite handicrafts produced by the refined skill and talent of her artisans. The beautifully embroidered shawls and rugs, intricately carved furniture, painstakingly knotted carpets and attractive papier maché products are the world’s delight, and Kashmir's pride.
Kashmiri carpets are world renowned, and perhaps the most popular of Kashmir's handicrafts. Originally from Persia, the art of making the knotted carpet that Kashmir is famous for was patronized by a Kashmir King Sultan Zain-ul-Abidin. In the 15th century, he brought weavers from Persia, to train the local Kashmiri inhabitants. The quality and price of a Kashmiri carpet depends on the density of knots. Most Kashmiri carpets have between 200 and 900 knots per square inch. Carpets with 3600 knots per square inch have also been created by Kashmir's talented craftsmen; but these are extremely rare.
The Kashmiri shawl is of superior quality, soft, warm and charmingly embroidered. It is made of three types of wool: Shahtoosh which comes from a rare Tibetan antelope, and is considered the king of wool, the Pashmina which comes from the Capra Hircus goat, and the Raffal which is spun out of Marino Wool. The Kashmiri shawls are made using two techniques, either loom woven (Kani-Shawl) or needle embroidered (Sozni).
Kashmir's walnut wood-work is the manifestation of elegant and intricate craftsmanship. Walnut wood is hard and durable, and its texture is even and close-grain. This enables the artisan to carve very fine designs. Of these patterns, floral and dragon designs are the most common. Carved furniture is the most famous of this Kashmiri handicraft, but bowls, trays, cigarette boxes, wall plaques, table lamps, screens and bedsteads are other popular items.
In an elaboration of the handicrafts from Kashmir, papier maché cannot be neglected. The art of papier maché involves layering paper pulp on a mould. It is then allowed to set, after which it is decorated. The colors used for decoration are made by diluting pigments in water with a little glue. Mineral, vegetable and organic colors are used. The final object is coated with varnish to give it shine and to protect it. Mughal pictures, mythological figures, scenes of hunting and battle, and floral patterns are the most popular.
All Kashmir crafts including the major ones are household products with active involvement of all members of the family as the essential skills are carried down from generation to generation and learnt without any substantial effort. As such a particular craft remains the monopoly of a particular family, a ghetto or an ethnic group often called by the name of the craft..... (to be continued)