Kashmir Paper Machie is resultant of various traditional painting techniques characterised by the highly colourful and miniature like intricate designs with motifs of Kashmir. They are rendered with very fine shades of colour and textures by fine brushes.
The technique of Paper Machie was introduced in Kashmir by the 15th Century Sultan, Zain-Ul-Abadin after his return from Samarkand in Central Asia. This art further flourished under the Mughal Period.
Traditional Paper Machie in Kashmir is a highly specialised craft industry and with involves three stages of production, each performed by specialised artisans.
- The basic object is made of light weight material like paper pulp, paper board or light wood by a different community called saktasazi.
- It is subsequently coated with several layers of traditional primer (sareesh) and smoothened each time
- Then it is given to the naqash or painter for fine hand painting of the intricated designs and gold and silver work.
- It is again rubbed with jade stone for final luster and varnished with local varnish called copal or industrial lacquer.
Some of the traditional designs are
Figurative depictions – based on themes of court scenes (durbar), jungle scene (shikargah), Polo field (Chogun), rubiyat, epics, battles etc
Floral depictions – dominant motifs are based on various floral arrangements like rose, iris, carnation, tsunth post (apple blossom), gulal(poppy), pamposh(lotus), yambirzal (narcissus), nargis (daffodil), grape and chinar leaves
Geometrical depictions – based on the motifs used in the traditional shawl industry
Ladakhi or Chinese depictions – themes employing dragon as the dominant motif
Hazara – prevelant and traditional pattern with thousand flowers
Gul-I-wilayat – means foreign flowers and it includes foliage and stem and also birds in its especially bulbul and kingfisher
Gulandargul – another pattern of displaying flowers where flowers will be displayed in bunches one behind the other
Badam tarah – mango shaped almond motifs also known as paisley or shawl tarah.
Chinar – the five pointed leaf from the tree predominant in Kashmiri landscape
Sarav (cypress) – like a shrub which gradually drawn out into a long delicate form of an independent tree with details of leaf, bud, flower and fruit.
The uniqueness of this craft lies in the smoothness of the surface of the product, the choice of the colours of the motifs, the manner in which the motifs are sketched and painted, and the choice of flora and fauna of Kashmir region as subject of these motifs.
The characteristics products with these designs are boxes, bowls, vases, lamps, trays, soorais, candleholders and photo frames, Christmas decorations, screens, tables and large jewellery boxes.
GI Tag Registration Date : 06 January 2012
GI Tag Number : 181
Certificate Number : 161
Geographical Area : Jammu and Kashmir
Special Cover Release Date : 17 August 2021
Cancellation : Srinagar 190 001
Type : GI Tag Cover
Cover Identification Number : J&K/05/2021
Enlarged View of Illustration
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