Photo Essay: Sakhta-saz, the paper pulp artisans of Kashmir

Photo Essay: Sakhta-saz, the paper pulp artisans of Kashmir

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Papier mache is a 700 year old craft of Kashmir. The process of making papier mache products is a result of two- stage techniques … the first stage involves the sakhta-saz, who makes the object with paper pulp; the second stage is of the naqash, who decorates the object with artwork. The sakhta-saz prepares a paper pulp by manually pounding a mixture of  paper (which has been soaked in water for days till it disintegrates), cloth shreds, rice straw and copper sulphate. These are soaked in water and then pounded to make pulp. The pulp, with an adhesive of rice and flour mix is used to form various objects. This art in Kashmir is known as chaetikaem.

This paper pulp mixture is applied onto the moulds made of wood, brass or plaster of Paris and is left to dry in the sun. After it has dried , the object is then carefully detached from the mould using a saw and then rejoined using the rice glue. The sealed joint is made smooth using a file made of wood known locally as kathwa or kirkut which may either be a small piece of charred brick or a pumice stone (sangh-i-paaya). The final object formed is known as kalib. The final process (pishlawun) involves the application of a light coat of lacquer (saresh) on the object followed by a mix of saresh, chalk powder and water. The kalib is then left to dry before the naqash decorates it.

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