Papier Machie

Handicrafts, in which skilled people produce many types of creative pieces using various materials from paper to stone, are one of the important ways of preserving and promoting cultural and artistic traditions along with the talents associated with the people's history and lifestyle. And when it comes to handicrafts, the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir is widely known for its artwork, cultural heritage and handicrafts. Kashmiri handicrafts include sophisticated products made manually or with the help of hand tools. Papier-mache, among these handicrafts, is an age-old craft that was introduced to the valley by Mir Sayyid Ali Hamadani, who arrived from Persia with skilled craftsmen in the 14th century. The Sufi Muslim Mir Sayyid Ali Hamadani, also addressed honorifically throughout his life as "Shah-e-Hamadan," meaning "King of Hamadan," was instrumental in spreading Islam in the region and introducing many crafts and industries to Kashmir. With the advent of Islam, papier-mache became one of the core artistic professions, holding considerable religious relevance in the valley. It is one of the oldest handicrafts, which is deeply interwoven with the culture and tradition of Kashmiri society and whose legacy has been passed from one generation to another for centuries. Besides, it generates employment for hundreds and thousands of Kashmiri households. The locally manufactured papier-mache products are brought to local retail shops and tourist attractions for sale and are also exported to international markets, mainly in Europe. Making of papier-mache Papier-mache is a French word that means chewed paper and the process of making it involves two steps: Sakhtsazi and Naqashi. Sakhtasazi, the initial stage of preparation, includes the making of the figurine from the mixture of paper pulp with the help of rice straw and copper sulfate. In the final step of Naqashi, several coats of paint are applied and the figurine is decorated. Artists prefer to use organic colors to paint their mesmerizing products. The entire procedure, which is done manually, requires much care and deliberation and is tedious and time-consuming.