Elephant Panels

These very finely crafted panels are created by using the traditional art of Zardozi and embellished with semi precious stones. It takes an expert artisan about one month to create each panel. 

Papier Mache

Papier Mache is a delicate, decorative art which shows the artistic zeal of a craftsman. This unique craft involves the use of paper pulp for creating beautiful artifacts painted by expert craftsmen in lifelike images of Kingfishers, maple leaves and other motifs.

Embroidered Pashmina

                                                                                                                                                          

Kashmir Shawls are world famous for their beauty, texture and embroidery. Design is either woven on the loom or hand embroidery is done by needle or hook. In Kashmir, wool woven from the inner fleece of the ibex goat found at 14,000 ft. above MSL is called Pashmina. The rarity of this soft wool makes it more precious than gold by weight.

Many kinds of embroidery are worked on Kashmir Shawls and Jackets, stylish paisley and flower motifs of various kinds are used in diffeent colors. Kashmir Shawls are warm and imperial in looks and are regarded as a status symbol by those who admire them.

 

Silk Carpets

Hunting pattern being knotted by master artisan.

                               Carpet Loom                                

Hand Knotted Silk Carpets from Kashmir

A Kashmiri women knotting a fine Silk Carpet.

The history and development of the carpet industry in Kashmir was associated with and influenced by the opulent lifestyles of its rulers, nobles, and aristocrats.  The introduction of this industry into Kashmir dates back to the reign of Zain-ul-Abdin (1423-1474 CE) who was named Badshah (the great king) by his subjects. Hundreds of master craftsmen were invited to Kashmir from Persia & Central Asia. Most of the craftsmen settled in Kashmir and initiated rug weaving.  This is perhaps due to an atmosphere conducive for this trade and also the great appreciation for these works of art. 

          Later, during the reign of Mughals, rug weaving gained a prominent position and emperors like Jahangir and Shah Jan (who built the monument of love, ‘The Taj Mahal’) established a distinctive style in Arts and Architecture of that era.  The carpets woven during those periods bore similar motifs, patterns, and decorative styles as found in the palaces and monuments. 

          To trace the history of the hand-knotted carpets is to follow a path of cultural growth of one of the greatest civilizations the world has ever known.  From being simply articles of necessity, used simply to cover the floor area near any entrance and to protect the nomadic tribesmen from dampness and cold, the increasing beauty of the carpets found them new owners, kings and noblemen.