Kashmir Handicrafts
The vast cultural and ethnic diversity of Kashmir has enabled a
variety of motifs, techniques and crafts to flourish on this land. The
various handicrafts are in tune with its age old splendid civilization,
which has been perfected over centuries. The diverse articles ranging from
woolen textiles, pashmina shawls, embroidered suits, Kashmir silk saris,
pappier machie, wood carving, hand knotted carpets etc. are crafted by
highly skilled craftsmen, creating distinct products.
Kashmir Silk Carpets & Rugs
Hand knotted silk carpets of
Kashmir are renowned for their shine, softness and fine workmanship in the
world. These silk carpets display fine workmanship and intricate designs.
The motifs and patterns are inspired form nature to hunting scenes, bird and
animal motifs or thematic designs like historical romances. Apart from
carpets, hand knotted rugs such as felt rug are made from beaten wool, which
is then embroidered over, is an important branch of the kasida industry of
Kashmir.
Kashmir Shawls
The history of Kashmir Shawls is very interesting
and old perhaps. It is a work of delicacy, tremendous concentration and too
much of patience. The decoration is formed by weft threads interlocked where
the colors change, the weavers passing them between the warps using bobbins
around, which the variously colored threads are wound. The raw material for
pashmina is brought from and taken to for hand-weaving followed by
embroidery and finishing. Kashmiri shawls are rare and unique, due to its
peculiar charm that is derived from the symphony of color schemes depicting
architectural and mythological figures interwoven with landscape designs.
Kashmir Embroidery
Kashmir
has long been famous for exquisitely embroidered shawls, stoles, scarves,
saris etc. and has been much coveted by foreign tourist centuries ago. The
embroidery of Kashmir, called kasida, is world-famous. Varied, rich in
color, elaborate in detail and exquisite in execution, the kasida patterns
are freely drawn by the naqqash mostly from memory. The chain-stitch is also
used for the making of a large number of miscellaneous articles such as
bags, screens and cushion covers.
