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Papier mache is a delicate decorative art which
shows the artistic zeal of a craftsman. This unique craft involves the use of
paper pulp for creating beautiful artifacts painted by expert craftsmen in
lifelike images of kingfishers, maple leaves and other motifs. The traditional
Kashmiri method of making papier mache starts with ordinary paper which is
soaked in water for several days until it disintegrates. The excess water is
drained out and the paper is mixed with cloth, rice straw and copper sulphate to
form a pulp. The mixture is then placed in a mould and left to dry for two to three days.
On drying, the shape is cut away from the mould into two halves and then glued
again. The surface is then coated with a layer of glue and gypsum and rubbed
smooth with a stone.
Next layers of tissue paper are pasted over it. A base color is painted on it
and a design is added freehand. The object is then sandpapered or burnished and
is finally painted with several coats of lacquer. The colors for painting
designs on the surface are obtained by grinding and soaking various vegetable
mineral dyes in pigment or stone form. The final product is a beautiful artwork
that cannot be called the creation of one artist. It travels many pairs of
talented hands before reaching its final destination. |
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