Papier Mache

Papier Mache is a delicate decorative art made from paper pulp. The traditional Kashmiri method of making Papier Mache starts with soaking paper in water for several days until it disintegrates. The excess water is drained and the pulp is then mixed  with cloth and rice straw which is then shaped into the desired objects with the help of moulds, dried and hand painted. The whole process goes through several hands and takes many days to shape into a piece of colorful art. This art originated in Persia in the 15th and 16th Century and today has evolved onto intricate designs, even using real gold and silver.