Item: Exquisite vintage Kashmir region lacquered handmade lidded casket box, masterfully crafted, embossed, hand painted with opaque pigments and gold. Islamic Kashmiri, Indo Persian Mughal Empire / Qajar Dynasty -era rooted miniature style floral pattern / design painting, Mid-century period, ca. 1960’s, Northern India. Note that this area of India, Kashmir, is an important place the Islamic / Muslim world and the territory is contested. The (larger) Kashmir region is considered part of ‘The Greater Middle East’ and part of it borders on Afghanistan. It’s also part of the Himalayas, so collectors of Himalayan art may want to consider this item. The casket offered here is considered a very large size at 9 inches long (most lacquer-ware boxes are quite small), but perhaps more importantly, the quality of the painting is superior. A famous young Bollywood actress, Zaira Wasim, who starred in ‘Dangal’, is Muslim and from Indian administered Kashmir, but apparently she’s now decided to quit acting. Zaira’s faith is more important to her than fame or money. True artists listen to their inner selves, which we can perhaps only enjoy through their artistic output for as long of a time as they’re able to share their spirit with us. PLEASE SEE MY OTHER EBAY LISTINGS FOR A NICE SELECTION OF ART, ANTIQUES, AND COLLECTIBLES !!
Details: The area where this was made has long been a cultural convergence territory (Chinese, Pakistani, Persian, Indian, etc.) with quite an interesting history of art and craftsmanship. Most people would say that this box is constructed from a lightweight wood, and it may be (?). But, many collectors classify these objects as papier mache, whether paper pulp and paste is molded around wooden board or not. To me, it’s more about the painting and lacquering than materials such as paper which are made from wood anyway. A beautiful long box such as this should be of use to anyone. I tried a few things: US currency (dollar bills) fit into it, as do unpacked incense sticks made by Satya. This could be used as a trinket or jewelry box, or simply a work of art for display.
From the Himalayas Wiki Page: “Further west, the Himalayas form most of the southern portion of the Indian administered State of Jammu & Kashmir. The twin peaks of Nun Kun are the only mountains over 7,000 m (4.3 mi) in this part of the Himalayas. Beyond lies the renown Kashmir Valley and the town and lakes of Srinagar. Finally, the Himalayas reach their western end in the dramatic 8000 m peak of Nanga Parbat, which rises over 8,000 m (26,000 ft) above the Indus valley and is the most westerly of the 8000 m summits. The western end terminates at a magnificent point near Nanga Parbat (killer mountain ) where Karakoram, Himalayas and Hindu Kush ranges intersects. It's situated in the Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan-administered Kashmir.”
Background: The region of India where Indian lacquer ware (Lac turnery) and papier mache are specialties in the luxury handicraft market is today called ‘Jammu and Kashmir’. It’s considered Indo Persian / Mughal and Islamic art because it was brought to the area by Mir Sayyid Ali Hamadani from Persia in the 14th century. Indian lacquering is a craft that’s several hundred years old. It was first mentioned in ‘Aaine Akbari’, written by Abul Dazl in 1590 AD. Papier mache is based primarily on paper pulp, and is a richly decorated, colourful artifact; generally in the form of vases, bowls, or cups (with and without metal rims), boxes, trays, bases of lamps, and many other small objects. These are made in homes, and workshops, in Srinagar, and other parts of the Kashmir Valley, and are marketed primarily within India, although there is a significant international market. During the Mughal era, paper mache was extended to include many items of home furniture that were made in Kashmir. Many notable objects of this type are exhibited in museums in many parts of the world. The basic method followed was to apply the papier-mâché on wood work, and one such work can be seen in Kashmir at the Madin Sahib Mosque built in 1444, the ceiling of the Shah Hamdan Mosque and the Shalimar Garden, a Mughal garden in Srinagar. This tradition of using papier-mâché or pulp on wood work to be colourfully painted with different designs is very much in practice even today. Some of the older designs involved intricate painting of kingfishers, maple leaves and other designs, such as "Arabesque", "Yarkand" and "Hazara".