Wooden bed.
Double bed.
Perhaps the most effective and certainly the best value for the money is the copper work of Srinagar. The coppersmith work with a hammer and chisels, and many of the present coppersmiths are men who used once to work in silver. They also work in brass. their designs are very quaint and bold, and they are very ready to adopt any new pattern that may be offered to them. A large demand has arisen for the beautiful copper trays framed as tables in carved walnut-wood, and the carpenter is now the close ally of coppersmith.
The old city abounds with shops where objects of copper line the walls, the floor and even the ceiling, made generally for the local market. Craftsmen can often be seen engraving objects of household utility - samovars, bowls, plates and trays. Floral, stylised, geometric, leaf and sometimes calligraphic motifs are engraved or embossed on copper and occasionally silver, to cover the entire surface with intricate designs which are then oxidised, so as to stand out better from the background. The work, known as 'naqashi', determines the price of the object, as does the weight.
This Kashmiri copper kettle"samovars"(tea kettle of Russian origin) is engraved with designs of the leaves of Chinar (maple) trees, native to Kashmir. The detailed designs in traditional Kashmiri style, reflect the craftsmanship of the skilled traditional coppersmiths of Kashmir. Drinking water stored in a copper vessel, is believed to be beneficial for one's health. Enjoy the benefits of drinking water, tea or any beverage of your choice, from this engraved copper kettle. Combining functionality with aesthetic charm, this Kashmiri copper kettle is sure to enhance the ambience of your dining table.
The year 1320 AD marks a significant shift in the socio-cultural history of Kashmir with the transfer of power from Hindu to Muslim rule and the establishment of the Sultanate in the valley. As with most other Muslim dynasties of that time in the Indian sub-continent, the ruling elite of the Sultans of Kashmir comprised a large number of foreigners, especially Persians and Central Asians. These foreigners included missionaries, preachers, men of letters, swords and merchants who bought with them an appreciation of art and crafts that had developed in the wider Islamic world. Hence the Sultanate rule laid the foundation for the evolution of a unique cultural ethos showing synthesis between the ancient traditions of Kashmir and a host of new ideas originating from Persia, Arabia and Central Asia.
The two men who stand out for their contribution to the development of this new culture are Mir Syed Ali Hamdani and Sultan Zain-ul Abideen. Syed Ali or as he is popularly known as Shah-i-Hamdan was a famous Persian mystic who is said to have been responsible for the widespread conversion to Islam of people in Kashmir. The Syed who fled to Kashmir from Persia following Timur’s invasion brought with him a host of artisans and craftsmen who found favor with local court. The 15th Century king of Kashmir Sultan Zain-ul-Abideen supplemented this work of Syed Ali. Most traditional historical references maintain that Zain-ul-Abideen invited craftsmen from all part of Islamic world especially from Iran and Central Asia. Indeed according to popular legends, Zain-ul-Abideen is said to have spent some time at Smarkand before his accession to the throne. This journey to the then heart of the Islamic civilization if it did actually take is would indeed have imbibed the young prince with a refined taste for art and crafts that were yet lacking in his own kingdom. And once he ascended the throne, the Sultan made a sustained attempt (even coercion) to enrich his land. Amongst the various crafts that got introduced in this period is the art of making lacquered pen cases known as kar-i-kalamdan.
The word shawl is derived from Persian "shal", which was the name given for a whole range of fine woolen garments. The shawl in India was worn folded across the shoulder, and not as a girdle, as the Persians did.Shawls are worn and used as a warm protective garment all over north India today, Kashmir has become synonymous with shawls all over the world. At the time of Mughal rule in India, Kashmir overtook the North-West Frontier and Punjab, as the center of shawl making. The Mughal emperor Akbar was greatly enamored by the Kashmiri shawls and the way it was worn, folded in four, captured his imagination. He experimented with various ways of wearing it, and found that it looked good worn without folds, just thrown over the shoulder.There are three fibres from which Kashmiri shawls are made - wool, pashmina and shahtoosh. The prices of the three cannot be compared - woollen shawls being within reach of the most modest budget, and shahtoosh being a one-in-a-lifetime purchase.Woollen shawls are popular because of the embroidery worked on them, which is unique to Kashmir. Both embroidery and the type of wool used bring about differences in the price. Wool woven in Kashmir is known as 'raffel' and is always 100 per cent pure. Sometimes blends from other parts of the country are used and Kashmiri embroidery is worked on them. These blends contain cashmilon, cotton, or a mixture of both.Pashmina is unmistakable due to its softness. Pashmina yarn is spun from the hair of the ibex found in the highlands of Ladakh, at 14,000 ft above sea level. Although pure pashmnina is expensive, the cost is sometimes brought down by blending it with rabbit fur or with wool. It is on pashmina shawls that Kashmir's most exquisite embroidery is executed, sometimes covering the entire surface, earning it the name of 'jamawar'.
The willow used in making cricket bats was brought in by the British, who ruled India, during the 1920s. The villages nestled high in the mountains which were abundant with willow; specifically Kashmir, and accounted for the majority of the world's cricket bats during the 1970s when its manufacturing started. English willow bats are lighter than Kashmir willow bats therefore they are used mostly in test matches and the kashmir willow bat is used in the twenty20s. These bats are not only popular in India, but also in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. The bats cost from $10 to $200. Generally considered to be heavier than English willow bats. Traditional methods are still used by the industry established in Kashmir, whereby bats are shaped by hand and eye measurements, combining traditional tools with modern technology.[citation needed] Some of the districts were these bats are made in Kashmir are Anantnag, Baramula, and Pahalgam.
Sunflower oil is the non-volatile oil compressed from sunflower (Helianthus annuus) seeds. Sunflower oil is commonly used in food as a frying oil, and in cosmetic formulations as an emollient. Sunflower oil was first industrially produced in 1835 in the Russian Empire. The world's largest sunflower oil producers now are Ukraine, Russia and Argentina.
Sunflower oil is a monounsaturated (MUFA)/polyunsaturated (PUFA) mixture of mostly oleic acid (omega-9)-linoleic acid (omega-6) group of oils. The oil content of the seed ranges from 22 to 36% (average, 28%): the kernel contains 45 55% oil. The expressed oil is of light amber color with a mild and pleasant flavor; refined oil is pale yellow. Refining losses are low and the oil has good keeping qualities with light tendency for flavor reversion. The oil contains appreciable quantities of vitamin E, sterols, squalene, and other aliphatic hydrocarbons, terpene and methyl ketones .
As a frying oil, sunflower oil behaves as a typical vegetable triglyceride. In cosmetics, it has smoothing properties and is considered noncomedogenic. Only the high oleic variety possesses shelf life sufficient for commercial cosmetic formulation. Sunflower oil's INCI name is Helianthus annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil. Sunflower oil is also an ingredient in sunflower butter. Sunflower oil can be used to run diesel engines when mixed with diesel in the tank.
Sofa sets.
Writing table.
Wooden chair.
The walnut belongs to the small order of trees and shrubs known as Juglandeae. Walnut trees are very large, ranging from 50 to 75 feet in height and width. Kashmir revels in reputation in that it is the only region in India where the walnut tree grows. The natural sheen, color and grains are indeed exceptional and unique. The carving and fret- work done on this wood is of a delight.Generally two types of walnut trees are found in Jammu and Kashmir- one that bears fruit and is noted for its wood, and another which is not fruit-bearing. The latter is known as 'zangul' in local parlance and is less strong and possesses no grains.
Moist coniferous forests of the Eastern and Western Himalayas, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, hilly regions of North and South, the Eastern hills, Uttar Pradesh and Arunachal Pradesh are most suitable for the growth of walnut. Total area under walnut is 67053 hectares with annual production over 71758 metric tons.Given the high tariffs and strong domestic production, there are few opportunities for imports. India's 2001/02 walnut production is forecast at 28,000 tons. Exports are expected to be around 14,000 tons. The current year (2000/01) export estimate has been raised 11 percent to 15,500 tons, based on strong demand from the EU and the United States (due to a smaller crop). Major export destinations during the Indian fiscal years 1999 and 2000 were Spain, Egypt, Germany, Netherlands, U.K., Greece, Italy, and the United States. There are no restrictions on walnut exports and no government export subsidies.
Walnut Types
Persian walnut and black walnut are the most important temperate nut grown in India.
Wood carving is a form of working wood by means of a cutting tool (knife) in one hand or a chisel by two hands or with one hand on a chisel and one hand on a mallet, resulting in a wooden figure or figurine, or in the sculptural ornamentation of a wooden object. The phrase may also refer to the finished product, from individual sculptures to hand-worked mouldings composing part of a tracery.
The walnut wood carving of Kashmir employs a process of hand carving done very carefully and delicately in various styles by means of varied tools, fabricated locally depicting forms and motifs that have evolved over a period of centuries.
The process is representative of local tradition of carving, evolved from stone and transmitted later on through the medium of wood representing various facets of carving; from flat to deep relief that employs a subtle three-dimensional effect.
The carving employs a host of motifs that depict the varied flora and fauna of the region in a highly stylized manner also reflective of other associated Kashmiri handicrafts.
The desired effect and craftsmanship is achieved by the master craftsman (wasta or naqash) through calculated measured strokes for chipping, carving and rounding of the surface. The entire process is highly representative of the art of stone sculpture (shilpi) though on a more miniaturized scale.
The Kashmiri walnut wood craftsman rejoices in carving intricate and varied designs based on lively natural forms. Thus elaborate and intricate carvings form the essentials of what is termed as good quality wood carving. This tendency or rather fascination for detail seems to have developed in the latter part of the 19th Century under European influences when the bold and effective woodcarving of yesteryears was replaced by a highly intricate process of undercutting in the 19th Century.
In today’s contemporary market, Kashmiri walnut woodcarving is recognizable because of colour and tone of the material (walnut) and its combination with local craftsmanship depicting certain established motifs in a highly intricate and miniaturized form in the traditional established styles. The Kashmir walnut woodcarving is practiced in the five main styles:
a) Undercut (Khokerdar): This type of carving is highly reflective of traditional stone carving involved in the making of sculptures.
Wooden carved table.
Wooden furniture.
