Paper Mache Egg (Gold with flowers - 7.5cms)

The process of paper mache is very elaborate and gives employment to several thousand artisans of the Kashmir valleys.

Paper pulp is pounded and mixed with rice paste. It is laid to the required thickness on a mould or wooden item and over it is pasted paper layer upon layer by the repeated process of drying and adding. The mould is then removed and the papier mache is then filed evenly with sand paper. After this cumbersome process the final base is prepared for a craftsman to outline the design. Specially made hair brushes are used in making the designs. Pure gold and silver leaves are still in use in leaf or outline to enhance the beauty of the design pattern.

Traditionally evolved patterns are highly stylised. The most frequently used hazara (thousand) pattern seeks to display every conceivable flower. Other rich and varied floral patterns include chinar leaf and the iris while bird forms are represented by the kingfisher and the bulbul amid foilage.

The word paper mache is a French one and as far as we know the paper mache boxes were used by rich people for packing the expensive woollen shawls for presentation purpose.