Papier-Mâché Treasures

Art born from patience and poetry.

The story of Kashmir’s iconic paper mâché begins in the 14th century with the arrival of Mir Sayid Ali Hamdani, a revered Sufi saint and scholar from Persia. Along with spiritual wisdom, he brought with him a wave of skilled artisans who introduced Persian crafts to the valley — among them the delicate art of papier mâché, or kar-e-qalamdani.

In Kashmir, this craft took on a new life. Using hand-pulped paper layered over carved forms, artisans would mould, sun-dry, and burnish each object before painting intricate floral and geometric motifs using fine brushes made from squirrel hair. Finished with layers of lacquer, these pieces were both practical and poetic — keepsakes that lasted generations.

From vibrant Christmas baubles to heirloom boxes, every Maison Kashmir piece is a tribute to this legacy — created slowly, intentionally, and with reverence for a history written in brushstrokes.