About the craft
An intricate and unique art form that blends intricate designs with vibrant colours, Papier-mâché is a sustainable and eco-friendly craft that literally translates to ‘chewed paper’. This ancient art brought to the Kashmir valley from Persia and Central Asia has been preserved over centuries and perfected over generations. The artisans of Papier-mâché are not only crafts persons, but are artists, creating one-of-a-kind pieces that each tell their own story. The papier-mâché craft has two main steps, Sakhtsazi or the moulding of objects from paper pulp, and Naqashi, or the intricate hand painting of objects with exquisite designs and colours.
Sakhtsazi
Recycled paper strips are soaked in water to 3 to 4 days and then ‘mashed’ into pulp with a large stone mortar.
Mashed pulp is dried and then mixed with natural rice flour and locally produced glue called sareesh to bind it.
The pulp is transferred into clay or wooden moulds.
The objects are then smoothened with rhythmic tapping with wooden blocks and finished by hand rubbing to smoothen any uneven bits.
Naqashi
Skilled artisans begin decorating the objects with a base coat of vibrant colours.
The base is then overlayed with intricate and colourful patterns and motifs inspired by nature, geometry, calligraphy and poetry.
Each unique piece is finished with a coat of varnish to gives it its characteristic glossy charm creating a timeless collectible, whether be it a small trinket box or festive ornament or a large vibrant and unique wall plate.
