About Papier Mache & Artisans

Known for its intricate work with paper pulp and famed across the world, Papier Mache has been synonymous with Kashmiri art since the 15th century.

Paper mache or Papier Mache derives its name from the French term meaning ‘mashed or chewed paper’.

The creation of a papier-mache object can be divided into two distinct categories, the sakhtsazi (making the object) and the naqashi (painting the surface).

Artisans soak used newspaper or scrap paper until it disintegrates, then mix it with cloth, rice or straw to form a pulp. The mixture is moulded, dried, and cut into shapes. Artisans coat the surface with glue paste, rub it smooth with baked clay and paste it on layers of tissue paper. The base colour and motifs are all created freehand with paints, then burnished and coated with lacquer. 

Common motifs that appear on Kashmiri paper mache products include flowers, box patterns, jungle motifs, and Kashmiri symbols like almonds and the chinar, a five-pointed leaf.