Kashmiri Wooden Arts

The rich craft heritage of Kashmir is as unique and as diverse as its customs and traditions. Each part of the country has its own unique cultural ethos, which is manifested in the crafts of the region.

The wood carving industry in Kashmir thrives on the walnut wood that grows in the valley. The Kashmiri walnut wood has a fine texture and smooth grain patterns, making the wood expensive. Add to that the fine workmanship of the wood carvers and the finished product becomes unattainable for most buyers. The price of the wooden piece of craft depends on the grain pattern of the wood used, the detailing of the carving and the part of the tree used.

Kashmir woodworkers continue to work in the style of their ancestors with the simplest of tools. The skill of the wood carver is not restricted to small objects of domestic use, but extends to the fashioning of wooden boxes and intricate art work.

The wood is preserved simply but effectively, such as by rubbing oil of bel-a-fruit. Wood has had the longest relationship with humans apart from stone. Our ancestors used it to clothe themselves, to shelter themselves and to feed themselves. With different ways of cutting and using different types of wood, Kashmires started to recognize such skills as necessary for the survival of mankind. And so various types of carpentry such as wood carvers and furniture makers came into being in Kashmir.

Kashmir has a very long woodcraft history with its prime time during Vijayanagar Empire (1336AD). Wood craftsmen then were highly respected by the royalty because woodcraft was considered an art and a trade. Woodcrafts can be found everywhere in Kashmir, on wooden doors, posts, walls, in remote villages, in cities, in modern buildings, in temples, and one will be impressed by the wide variety of styles of this craftwork.