FFK Blog Fehmeeda Farid Khan
Related Articles
Handicrafts of Kashmir
Kashmir valley is rich, not only in cultural and ethnic diversity but also in the myriad art and crafts, which nurtured through the centuries. By the passage of time, the Art gets more and more diversification. These days Kashmir is quite popular for its textiles, like Pashmina Shawls, embroidered outfits, silk sari, papier mache, wood-carving, hand woven carpets and lots of traditional handicrafts.
Carpets
Kashmiri carpets are popular for two reasons. These are purely hand made. Secondly these are knotted, not tufted. Usually silk yarn or wool uses in these. Both woollen and silken carpets have cotton base. However in case of silken base the cost of the carpet increases proportionately. The colour combination is always eye-catching which makes the Kashmiri carpets a wonderful asset to possess. The carpet weaving skills originally came from Persia. That’s why most designs are inspiration of Persian with local variations.
Namda
Namda is colourful and attractive flooring rug. It’s made up of woollen and cotton fabric, which is manually processed into desired shape. Its price varies with the type of wool. Namda with more woollen stuff is expensive than that of containing lesser wool. The rug is embroidered with chain stitch on wool with cotton thread.
Papier Mache
Papier Mache is an ancient art. There are three different stages of processing Papier Mache products.
First of all, soak a paper in the water until it gets disintegration. Then pounded it and mix adhesive solution with it. Spread it over a mould and allow it to dry fully. After getting dry, a proper shape gives to make a product. Apply shinny paint or varnish on it and create artistic design on it with bright glittery colours.
Shawls
Kashmiri Shawls are popular all over the world for their sleek quality and sophisticated look. Mainly three types of fibre use for making the Kashmiri shawls, Wool, Pashmina and Shahtoosh.
Woollen shawls are cheaper while the Shahtoosh are the most expensive ones. However woollen shawls are speciality of Kashmir and famous for their embroidery designs. In fact embroidery and quality of wool, determines the prices.
Pashmina shawls have softer stuff. Their yarn spins from the hair of the ibex, lives on the height of 14,000 feet ASL.
Shahtoosh is the legendary ‘ring shawl’, known for its lighter, soft and warm stuff.
Crewel Work
Kashmiri crewel work is in great demand all over the world. This is different type of embroidery on a pre-shrunk white cotton fabric. The intrinsic worth of each piece determines by the size of the stitches and the quality of yarn. Chain stitch is popular embroidery on wool, silk or cotton and often created by a hook rather than needle. This embroidery uses in decoration pieces, wall hangings and rugs etc.
Silk/Tweeds
Tweed weaves from pure and no blend wool. The cocoon reared in Kashmir is of the superior quality. The fineness of this yarn speaks itself. This kind of silk calles as ‘chinon’ or ‘crepe de chine’.
Pheran
Pheran is a coat or cloak like outfit. It is loose enough to place a Kangri (small basket with coals embers in it. Men’s Pheran is always made by tweed or coarse wool, while of women’s made by raffle with Ari or Hook embroidery on the neck, cuffs and edges. The quality of embroidery and thickness of the raffle determines the price.
Basketry
In Kashmir, willow uses in making different kinds of handicrafts such as baskets, lamp-shades, table and chair.
Wood Carving
Wood of walnut tree is unique in colour, grains and inherent. Kashmiri artisans are famous for wood carving and fret work on the walnut wood. The design and creativity turns out outclass and superior in quality.
Copper and Silver Carving
Copper lining on the walls, floor and ceiling is quite popular handicrafts among the locals. Similarly household items like samovars, bowls, plates and trays decorated with floral, stylish geometric design, leafy and calligraphic motifs. This creativity on copper or silver calles as ‘naqash’.
Author: Fehmeeda Farid Khan
#The_Fehmiology
#FFKhan
#FFK
What’s up, its pleasant article concerning media print, we all be familiar with media is a impressive source of information.