Carpets are the perfect representative of the
world famous Kashmiri arts and crafts. Main features of these
Kashmiri carpets are that they are hand woven and knotted and
not machine made and never tufted. The yarn used in carpets
normally is silk, wool or silk and wool. Finishing of the
artwork and the material makes carpet expensive for many,but
one can always assures for having a collector's item in
possession bcause a carpet is a life long investment.
Namdas
Namdas are Less expensive then carpets.
These rugs made from cotton and woolen fiber which is
manually pressed into shape.These colorful floor coverings
are decorated by chain stitch embroidery which is done
beautifully by woolen and cotton threads
Shawls
The finest shawls to the world is given
by Kashmir. Kashmiri shawls are made from three fibers
they are wool, Pashmina and Shahtoosh and decorated by
Sozni , Motifs embroidery types.Pashmina, yarn is spun got
from the hair of the ibex though pure pashmina is
expensive,but semi or mixed Pashmina is affordable.
Shahtoosh , the legendary ‘ring shawl’ is famous for its
lightness, softness and warmth but it is a banned item
now.
Papier Mache
These products are made of the pulp of
paper and adhesive.To make a product of Papier Mache,
paper is soaked in water till it disintegrates. It is then
pounded, mixed with an adhesive solution, shaped over
moulds, and allowed to dry and set before being painted
and varnished.There is a big variety in artistry and the
choices of the colors.prices are desided by the material
used to decorate these artwork.
Silverware
It is one of the ancient arts in
Kashmir, Kashmiri silverware, especially ornamental
picture-frames, is in great demand in themarkets of United
States, European countries and Australia.The work known as
‘naqash’ determines the price of the object, as does the
weight.
Wood carving
Wood Carving is one of the best known
cottage industries of the valley. Kashmiri walnut and
Chinar wood has a fine texture and smooth grain patterns,
making the wood expensive. The price of the wooden piece
of craft depends on the grain pattern of the wood used,
the detailing of the carving and the part of the tree
used.
Silks, Tweeds
Sericulture and tweed weaving is under
the monitoring of the departments of State govt. the
cocoon reared in Kashmir is yielding an extremely fine
quality is nourished on fine mulberry leaves, Kashmir has a
wide range of silk textiles of varied designs. The weaves
popularly known as 'chinon' and 'crepe de chine' are of
finest quality produced from the yarn.
Basketry
Willow rushes that grow in plenty in
the marshes and lakes of Kashmir are used to make some
beautiful objects, ranging from shopping baskets and
lampshades to tables and chairs, all in affordable ranges.