Jammu & Kashmir Tourism

Watch: A beautiful visual journey in the making of Kashmir Paper Mache, one of the most beautiful handicrafts of Kashmir

Paper mache is one of the most beautiful handicrafts of Kashmir. There are a variety of items prepared by the craftsmen of Kashmir which have beautiful designs and colours and include pen stands, coasters, jewellery boxes, flower vases, lamp shades, trays, photo frames and decorative bowls"

The process of making a paper cache prioduct involves two simple procedures- Sakhtsazi and Naqashi.
Sakhtsazi involves fashioning the base product from the pulp of paper into the desired form while Naqashi is the painting process done over it.

To make a paper mache object, paper is usually soaked, pulped and pasted layer by layer over a mould. A mixture of chalk and glue is then pasted upon. The whole mixture upon drying is painted in different and delicate motifs and designs with beautiful colours. The result is a delicate and classic piece of paper mache object. This craft requires great degree of skill, training and practice. Kashmiri Paper mache is a handicraft of Kashmir that was brought from Persia in the 15th century. It is based primarily on paper pulp, and is a richly decorated, colourful artifact generally in the form of vases, bowls, or cups (with and without metal rims), boxes, trays, bases of lamps, and many other small objects.

These are made in homes, and workshops in Srinagar, and other parts of the Kashmir Valley and then are marketed, although there is a significant international market for these products. The product is protected under the Geographic Indication Act 1999 of Government of India, and was registered by the Controller General of Patents Designs and Trademarks during the period from April 2011 to March 2012 under the title "Kashmir Paper Mache".

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