Kashmiri Goods

Pherans
This garment is somewhere between coat and a cloak. It is eminently suited to the Kashmiri way of life, being loose enough to admit the inevitable brazier of live coals. Men's pherans are usually made of tweed or coarse wool, women's pherans are somewhat stylized, made from raffel with splashes of ari work around the edges.

Walnut Wood
A display of souvenirs made out of walnut wood Carving is a demonstration of the carver's skill; walnut being one of the strongest varieties of wood is eminently suitable for carving and is found in Kashmir. There are several varieties of carving. Deep carving, usually depicts dragon or lotus flower motif, two inch deep or more. Shallow carving, half an inch deep open to lattice work done all over the surface. Semi carving, a thin panel around the rim of the surface, with perhaps a centre motif. The advantage of semi carving is that it allows the grain of the wood to be displayed.

Papier Mache
The designs painted on the papier-mache objects are brightly coloured and intricate. They vary in artistry and the choice of colours. Gold is used on most objects, either as the only colour or as a highlight for certain motifs. Some of the objects with papier-mache designs are made up of cardboard and wood.
Basketry

Willow rushes that grow plentifully in marshes and lakes in Kashmir are used to make charmingly quaint objects, ranging from shopping baskets and lampshades to table and chairs.

Copper and Silverware
The old city abounds with shops where objects of copper line the walls, the floor and even the ceiling, made generally for the local market. Craftsmen can often be seen engraving objects of household utility -- samovars, bowls, plates, and trays. Floral, stylized, geometric, leaf and sometimes calligraphic motifs are engraved or embossed on copper, and occasionally silver, to cover the entire surface with intricate designs which are then oxidized to stand out from the background. The work known as "naqash," determines the price of the object, as does the weight.