CULTURAL STUDY OF KASHMIR AND KANYAKUMARI HANDICRAFT STUDY

1. CULTURAL STUDY
DONE BY
SYEDA TAHERA AYMAN ,SUHANA SB
KASHMIR AND KANYAKUMARI
B.ARCH
4TH SEMESTER

2. KASHMIR

3. RESOURCES

4. PAPIER-MÂCHÉ
The craft known by French term papier-mâché [literally paper pulp],is
locally known as kar-e-kalamkari, pen case work, after its traditional
Iranian name.
Papier-mâché was practiced as a form of decoration. executed on the
wooden panels of wall and wooden furniture and was eventually
adapted to paper moulds as well. trays, small boxes and the book
covers were made for royal patterns and members of the court.
Two major processes involved in the craft are sakthsazi (mould
making) and naqqashi (painting).

5. The kaleen are intricately handknotted silk carpet
or woolen carpets on a vertical loom through a
process of wrapping a supplementary weft around
successive wraps, creating a heavy durable fabric
with a soft pile surface of short lengths of fine wool
or silk.
A carpet with a central
medallion surrounding by a
matan,feild ,inturn enclosed
by several borders.
A variation of he medallion
carpets with quarter
medallions know as chothai
at the corners.
A carpet with
persion cum
pattern,which is
inspired by the
concept of garden
of paradise
KALEEN

6. sozni It’s a form of extremely fine and delicate lneedle work done
primarily on shawls-mainly pashima and high-quality raffle.
Design are created as a close as possible against the ground, and
individual threads of the wrap are taken up in the stitched and
reinforced to meet smaller stitches.
The stitch employed is not unlike stem stitch, and only the outline of
the design is embroidered.
Only a single strand is used and consecutively, and skilful executive
so sozni, the motif appears on both sides of the shawl.
KASHIDAKARI- KASHMIRI EMBROIDERY

7. NAMDA - FELTED RUGS
● Namda are felted rugs that are made by
enmeshing wool fibers with water, soap and
pressure and then embroidering the resultant
fabric.
● These are extensively used in kashmir
households as an effective and inexpensive
floor covering and mattress.
● Cotton is also mixed with woolen fibres to
create a fabric that is usually white in color
and maybe easily embroidered in floral
patterns or in composition containing stylized
animal figures.
● Tools:
● Carding device
● Punja - flattening device
● Chhatt - curved stick
● Ari - hooked needle

8. GABBA - EMBROIDERED RUGS
● Gabba are recycled old woolen blankets that
are washed, milled and dyed in various colors.
● These pieces are then stitched together and
backed with waste cotton cloth.
● The gabba is the either appliqued or
embroidered with crewel work.
● In the appliqued type, pieces of dyed blanket
are joined together and interspersed with vividly
colored embroidery in geometric and floral
patterns
● Gabba are made in a variety of shapes and
sizes.
● Used as floor covering and is also used as
mattress in colders areas of the state.
A detail of an ari worked bird and
its colorful plumage

9. WALNUT WOOD CARVING
● Walnut wood carving is an ornamental craft
process that is virtually unique to kashmir due to
concentration of walnut trees in this region.
● The master carver, first etches the basic pattern
on to the wood and then removes the unwanted
areas with the help of chisels and wooden mallet
so that the design emerges from the lustrous
walnut wood as an embossed surface.
● There are several varieties of carving technique
that are utilized - deep carving that is two inches
or so deep and is usually used for dragon and
flower motifs.
● Shallow carving, half inches deep and done all
over flat surfaces.
● Open or lattice work, usually depicting the chinar
motif
● Contemporary products include ladles, boxes,
bowls, trays, sandals and spinning wheels,
lamps, coffee tables, furniture, mirror frames.
Tools
● Hammer
● Chisels
● Wooden mallet
● Emery paper
● Saw
Details of floral pattern carved
on a wooden panel
A panel ornamented with
repetitive floral motif

10. PINJRAKARI OR LATTICE WOOD WORK
● Pinjrakari is an intricate form of lattice or trellis work
done in light wood that is used on windows, doors,
ventilator, railings or ornamental partitions and screens.
● In its original form glues, and nails were not used in this
technique, the precision of the joinery alone held it
together.
● The pinjra frames are pasted with handmade paper, this
effectively cutting out chilly winds and yet allowing a
sufficient amount of light to pass through.
● Expansive ceilings are constructed by repeating the
same pattern, the whole structure fitting together without
the use of a single nail.
● The khatumband technique was widely used in the
construction of kashmir floating houses and boats for
door to door selling and transport.
● The other products made with this technique include
boxes, bowls, screens, panels, bedsteads, cupboards
and cabinets.
Various kinds of wood work form the
architectural elements of a house boat.
Pinjrakari or lattice work used in the railings of
museum in srinagar

11. WICKER WORK
● Straw, grass and twigs are used to make
domestic products and containers for storing
and transporting agricultural produce.
● One of the main products js kangri, the wicker
basket used to carry clay pots containing
smouldering coals.
● The willow is boiled till the outer skin comes off
and inner layer is exposed.
● It is then cleaned and cut into strips of about 5
mm width.
● Then it is woven into basket.
● The willow mayb dyed blue, red or green and
various geometric patterns are created by
mutlidirectional weaves in the upper half of the
kangri.
● These are further embellished with shiny
coloured foil, mirrors and metal pieces
Products
Baskets boxes
Lampshades
Curtain rings
Trays

12. COPPER WARE
● The traditional copper ware of
Kashmir is created by three
processes of shaping, decoration
(naqqashi) and tinning (kalai).
● The surface is usually highly
ornamented with a profusion of
stylized floral and leaf forms,
religious symbols, geometric and
calligraphic patterns, as well as
elaborate hunting scenes.
● The patterns are formed on the metal
sheet using a combination of
techniques including repousse,
piercing and chasing.
● The raised patterns maybe further
highlighted by oxidizing the
depressed surface.
Products
Bowls
Cups
Dishes
Jugs
Ewers
Cauldrons
Saucepans
Cutlery
Lamps
Lanterns
Candle stands
Tools
Hammers
Anvil
Stakes
Chisels
Tracers

13. KANYAKUMARI

14. ● Kanniyakumari district is the smallest district in
Tamilnadu
● Kanyakumari town is the Southernmost tip of India.
● This small district is famous on its vast green
stretches of paddy fields, coconut groves, Rubber
garden and luxurious forests
● The 8th century Kumari Amman temple dedicates
to her is a popular pilgrimage center and the hub
for many indigenous crafts like
● Metal claddings for dieties
● Palm leaf and seashell objects
● Palm grows profusely in the region and the fibre
from its leaves used in basketry and packaging.
ABOUT THE PLACE

15. CRAFTS OF KANYAKUMARI
● Palm leaf work
● Kora mat weaving.
● Sea shell craft
● Bobblin lace ● Metal cladding
● Stucco work
● Stone carving

16. ● Palmyra is an important and significant tree if Tamil
Nadu.
● Palm leaf products are eco friendly.
● The palm leaf workers are all crafts women who work
from home.
● Green leaf are dried in the sun
● The midrib is separated from the palm leaf and the leaf
is cut into strips of varying widths.
● A section of midrib is folded over and used as a die to
make uniform splits from the leaf.
● Strips are also dyed for ornamentation.
● Baskets or coils are shaped either by weaving or coiling
strips.
● The craft traces its origin to a rough palm leaf bag for
storing onions
PALM LEAF WORK

17. PRODUCTS:
Traditional
● Dowry baskets
● Winnowing trays
● Hand fans, Rattles
● Pouches
● Storage baskets
Contemporary
● Bags, bins, boxes
● Bowls, Nesting boxes
● Coasters, dishes, trays
● Christmas decorations
● Hats and purses
PALM LEAF WORK
A large soft pliable basket
for carrying babies

18. TOOLS USED
● Needles
● Metal scrapper
● Pen knife
PALM LEAF WORK Steps for folding

19. KORA MAT WEAVING
● Grass pai, mats, made from finely split kora.Harvested
grass is processed and cut into fine splits and woven
into cotton wraps that is outstretched on a floor loom.
● The designs are influenced by the traditions of sari
weaving
● Dyed splits are used in contrast with natural colour of
grass.
● Grass splits are soaked in water before weaving
● After weaving, it is moved closer for a uniform, compact
surface.
Kora/sledge grass
Folding mats are joined and finished
by tailoring the edges with cloth piping
Detail of kora grass mat with horizontal bands

20. SEA SHELL CRAFT
● Kanyakumari situated at the confluence at
the bay of Bengal and Arabian sea is a
great source for many kinds of seashells
● Some shells are sold in the natural forms
associated within lord vishnu and goddess
shakti
● Shells of different sizes and shapes are
used to make attractive products,decorative
items.
● The shells are cleaned and ground to
smoothen the edges.
● Enamol paints are also used to add designs
on shells.
Decorative products made of sea shells

21. BOBBIN LACE
● Also known as pillow or pin lace is
inextricably linked to Christian festivities
● Occasions such as baptisms and weddings
call for the display of intricate lace work.
● Christian symbols such as the the cross
varying widths and sizes and motifs such as
Mary with Jesus and the lambs were used
as designs.
● Over a period oftime varying floral designs
based on sunflowers, dandelions, ferns and
animals such as butterfly and swans have
been developed
Lace made by intertwining multiple
threads

22. KAVASAM - SHEET METAL CLADDING
● Kavasam in Sanskrit meaning armour, are beaten
sheet metal cladding made of silver or brass
sometimes with gold leaf surfaces.
● They are used on stone idols, temples, wooden
chariots, gopurams, towers and doorways on special
occasions.
● They are custom made for the idols from the
respective moulds of cement that are used as the
base.
● Intricate patterns and details are embossed on the
sheet
● The finished kavasams are sent to workshops in
Madurai for gold layering
● Besides temple related products, images of village
dieties taken out during processions are made for
the local market, and miniature cars and houses
used as offering in Christian churches.
Tools
Chisels
Hammers
Die punches
Vishnu's hand holding a bead
necklace
A brass sword made from sheet

23. STONE CARVING
● Stone carving has been an ancient craft in Kanyakumari
district due to the patronage if religious architecture and
sculpture by ruling dynasties in South India.
● Black and red granite are locally available and are used
in carving tombstones, letter and gravestones, idols of
deities and grinding stones.
● The stone is first levelled.
● The figure is drawn with a mixture of red oxide and water
by the master craftsman, before carving oil is applied on
the idol, giving it the characteristic black color and
smoother surface.
● For letter stones a slab of granite is cut into required
shape.
● It is polished and the text is written with a pencil and
chiselled.
● In case of gravestones the upright cross, the headstone
is stencilled onto a slab of required dimensions and
sculpted.
Sculpture of Garuda, the mount of
vishnu
Products
Vigrahams - icons of
temples
Vahanas - mounts of
dieties
Lifesize statues of leaders
Tombstone
Flooring stone

24. THANK YOU