Molded paper pulp shaped into boxes, ornaments, and vases, then hand-painted in fine detail — a craft brought to Kashmir centuries ago and now closely tied to the region's identity.
कश्मीर · Kashmir
Soaked paper pulp is molded into shape, dried, and coated, then painted in successive layers, gold outlining, and fine floral detail, a technique tradition traces to Central Asian craft brought into Kashmir centuries ago and adapted into the region's own distinct style and motif vocabulary.
Srinagar remains the craft's center, and papier-mâché pieces, from small ornaments to large decorative vases, are among Kashmir's most widely recognized handicraft exports, made by artisan families working the full sequence of molding, base coating, and hand-painting.