IF YOU VISITING KASHMIR ,,,, DONT FORGET TO BUYING HANDICRAFT AUTHENTIC KASHMIRI ,AS LIKE PAPER MACHIE

Paper machie is one of the most delicate art practiced by Kashmiri artisans . The higly decorative products epitomise the artistic zeal and craftsmanship of the craftsman .

how paper machie , which became popular in the 15 th centur , came to Kashmir is unclear . Legend is that a Kashmiri prince was sent to jail in Samarkand in Central Asia and it was there he learnt the fine art of paper machie which requires enduring patience to practice . The art was promoted by Muslim rulers of India , particularly Mughals, who were fond of it . for good reason;watching an artisan mould a simple paper pulp into beautiful artefact is like witnessing creation come alive in a riot of colours .

paper machine products are produced from mostly waste paper. it is soaked in water for several days until it disintegrates , the water is then drained out and the soaked paper waste mixed with cloth, rice straw and copper sulphate to form pulp, which is moulded.

once it has dried , two halves of the shape of the artefat to be made is cut from the mould and glued. thereafter, glue and gypsum is applied on the surface and it is rubbed smooth with a stone or a baked piece of clay and pasted with layers of tissue paper. the begins the decoration;artisans paint it with a base colour and the draw awe - inspiring intricate designs and shapes with free hand . the object is then sandpapered or burnised and is finally painted with several coast of lacquer. the making of the object is called Sakhtsazi and painting the surface Naqashi . the colours for pinting designs are obtained by grinding and soaking various vegetable mineral dyes in pigment or stone form .

it is said that the art of paper machie art runs in the blood and it is difficult to acquire it. indeed, the best paper machie artisans come from Zadibal in Srinagar , from families that have been practising the craft for centuries .

one of the most difficult and rare paper machie designs in Arabsque . it is done in gold against a brown or red background to show sprays of rose blossem in fine lines .'Yarkand ' is an elabirate design of spirals with gold rosettes radiating from various centers and white flowers laid over gold scroll work

paper machie bowls and vases are usually line with brass and photo and pen holder with gold and silver leaves , the simmer and gloss of the products are preserved by coating of lacquer, which protects it from water thus prolonging its life