Papier

Papier Mache - the delicate, decorative craft is a true expression of the artistic zeal of a craftsman. The unique craft involves the use of paper pulp for creating beautiful artefacts and is believed to have been introduced from Central Asia by the Muslims. Locally known as 'Kari Kalamdari', it grew in the lovely land of Kashmir and was an art form highly favoured by the Mughals .

The Kashmiri craft has been pre-dominantly fine-tuned to cater to tourists and export markets.The ingenious papier mache artisans of Kashmir transform a variety of utility articles into rare art pieces.

The technique of Papier mache is an interesting one that involves kneading of soaked waste paper, cloth, rice straw and copper sulphate into a pulp which is pressed around a mould made of clay, wood or metal. On the drying of pulp, the shape is cut away from the mould in two halves and then glued again. The surface is coated with a layer of gypsum and glue, rubbed smooth with a stone or baked piece of clay and pasted with layers of tissue paper. The object is then sandpapered and burnished and is finally painted with several coats of a varnish made of linseed oil and pine resin. Papier Mache, today, has become highly stylised and appealing by using real gold and silver paint and by adding intricate decorations.

The designs and decorations of the Kashmiri Papier Mache, usually in the form of flowers and birds, have a strong Persian flavour. Among other rich designs are'Arabesque', done in gold against a brown or red ground to show sprays of rose blossoms in fine lines and 'Yarkand', an elaborate design built up in spirals with gold rosettes radiating from various centres and white flowers laid over gold scroll work. Some items like bowls and vases are lined with brass, while on special orders boxes and other items are ornamented with gold and silver leaves and depict beautiful landscapes and objects like a house boat, that form an inseparable part of Kashmiri lifestyle,

The papier mache craft of the south includes life-sized figures depicting the everyday scenes of life. In Madhya Pradesh, Gwalior is famed for papier mache toys and Ujjain is a centre for delicate figures of deities. Jaipur (Rajasthan) also concentrates on small items like toys, birds, etc.

The lovely valley of Kashmir is perhaps best known for the craft of papier-mache which was brought to it by a Kashmiri prince who spent years in a prison at Samarkand in Central Asia. Soaked waste paper, cloth, rice straw and copper sulphate are kneaded into a pulp which is then pressed on to clay, wood or metal moulds. Once it solidifies, it is coated with a white layer of gypsum and glue and then rubbed smooth. Finally the piece is sandpapered and painted with colourful Persian floral motifs.