Kashmir Walnut Wood Carving

Kashmir Walnut Wood Carving is a wood carving done by hand using walnut trees, which grow in plenty in the Kashmir valley. Traditional carvers known as naqash are involved in this carving work. Compared to its strength, walnut wood is light in weight, its grain structure is coil shaped and even textured with special colouration.^[1] The product range covered under this carving method are is both small and large in the form of jewelry boxes, screens, tables, and trays; the ornamented elegance of the houseboats in Srinagar provided the inspiration for the designs.^[2]

The product is protected under the GI Act 1999 of Government of India and was registered by the Controller General of Patents Designs and Trademarks during the period from April 2011 to March 2012 under the title "Kashmir Walnut Wood Carving" and listed at number 182.^[3][4]

History

The walnut tree

Kashmir Walnut Wood Carving, the traditional craft of Persia (Iran), was introduced in Kashmir by Persian (Iran) craftsmen who had practiced this art since the days of Armenian kings, as mentioned in the book Development, Technology and Influence on Eastern and Western Civilizations. These craftsmen, it is said, had to immigrate from Persia (Iran) because of the shortage of wood of shishu tree (Dalbergia sissoo) in the forest of that country and Baluchistan. The reason for this shortage of shishu trees was due to its extensive use, during that period, for manufacture of charcoal. In Kashmir these immigrant craftsmen perfected the craft of wood carving in wood of walnut tree as a substitute for shishu wood. In 1817, after the collapse of Mughal rule, some families of wood carvers moved out of the valley to settle elsewhere, where they could earn a livelihood and pursue their family craft peacefully. While some moved to Multan in Pakistan, others moved to Saharanpur and other places like Agra and Audh.^[5]

It is also said that some of the wood carvers from Persia moved directly to Saharanpur as they were not adept in handling walnut in Kashmir. Hence, wood carving developed at both places at the same time but with similar motifs of grapes (angur bunches) and chinar leaves with least depiction of animal figures or zoomorphic figures.^[5]

The carved gate and facade at the Coronation Durbar of King George V in 1911 at Delhi was of Kashmir Walnut Wood Carving art. Maharaja Pratap Singh to King George V; the Maharaja was instrumental in popularizing this wood carving among the elites and the royals.^[6]

Manufacturing process

The walnut wood available is hard and durable. Its close grain and even texture permits fine detailing work; even simply polished the wood surface appears appealing.^[7] Wood from three parts of the walnut tree are used to make the wood products. These are the root, trunk and its branches. The root wood is the most preferred use as the items made with it are most expensive. The branches have dull colours and are devoid of veins and are used to make trinket boxes and larger jewelry, as the preference in such works is for "invisible seams". The trunks have strong marked veins and form the darkest part of the tree. Objects made out of these include nut bowls, photo frames, salad bowls, trays and furniture.^[8]

There are four types of carving in vogue. These are: raised, engraved, undercut and plain types. While undercut involves great skill, the engraved type is more popular. A plain surface is the preferred option in the modern products for items such as trays, tables, bowls, dishes and others. The natural forms are the preferred by the Kashmiri carvers and some of the motifs seen commonly are of flowers such as iris, lotus, and rose. Fruits in bunches are also a common design feature, such as grapes or pears and also the chinar leaves. Dragon motifs of Lhasa and designs patterns in the kani and embroidered shawls also find their place with relief carving. Decorative and utility type articles such as bowls, trays, cigarette boxes, wall plaques, table lamps to screens, bedsteads and larger items of furniture are carved in walnut wood as they meet the modern day requirements.^[9]

Furniture carving demands highly skillful workmanship and a large work force is involved in this work, as the annual financial turn over in such products is substantial. The early years of the 20th century were not favorable as it was noted that they were overdone in the undercut work. ^[6]

A notable British master craftsman and designer John Makepeace had advised that economical use of decoration other than stereotyped designs should be adopted instead of too much detailing even though it was the preferred option of craftsmen. Kashmiri workers not only followed traditional design’s but also were amenable to accept suggestions in design changes. The school of designs at Srinagar has produced many designs of simple and functional items. Utilitarian and decorative are both in vogue in items such as bowls, bedsteads, cigarette boxes, candle stands to cupboards and cabinets.^[10]

The wood carving centres in the Kashmir valley, in the suburbs of Srinagar, are at Safa, Kadal, Rainawari, Feteh Kadal, Kade Kadal and Zana Kadal, and the products made here are also exported. Flat wood of walnut in small pieces are used by converting them into geometrical designs and then made into elegant shapes and fixed in ceilings of rooms, house boats, boxes, and in wall paneling. This art work is known as Khutan bandi, only seen in Kashmir.^[8]

References

Bibliography

• Jain, Dr. Madhu (2000). Wood Handicraft: A Study of Its Origin and Development in Saharanpur. Indus Publishing. ISBN 978-81-7387-103-0. 
• Saraf, D. N. (1 January 1987). Arts and Crafts, Jammu and Kashmir: Land, People, Culture. Abhinav Publications. ISBN 978-81-7017-204-8. 
• Singh, Sarina (2009). India. Ediz. Inglese. Lonely Planet. ISBN 978-1-74220-347-8. 
• Qazi, S.A. (1 January 2005). Systematic Geography of Jammu and Kashmir. APH Publishing. ISBN 978-81-7648-786-3.