Kashmiri Papier-Mâché Vase | Sumbhal Leaf Design

This handcrafted Kashmiri papier-mâché vase features delicate hand-painted motifs of Sumbhal, or water hyacinth, leaves in soft cream and pink tones. Its tall form provides a graceful surface for the botanical decoration, while the restrained palette gives the piece a subtle, understated character.

The vase is decorated using Kar-i-Munnaqash, a traditional Kashmiri painting technique known for its detailed patterns and fine brushwork on papier-mâché objects. The careful placement of the leaf motifs and the controlled use of colour reflect the precision associated with this established craft tradition.

Practised in Kashmir for centuries, Kar-i-Munnaqash is used to decorate both functional and ornamental objects. This vase brings that tradition into a decorative form suited to a console, shelf or tabletop, and will appeal to collectors of Kashmiri handicrafts, Indian decorative arts and traditional hand-painted objects.

Details

• Object: Papier-Mâché Decorative Vase
• Origin: Kashmir, India
• Craft Tradition: Kashmiri papier-mâché
• Technique: Kar-i-Munnaqash
• Motif: Sumbhal (water hyacinth) leaves
• Colours: Soft cream and pink
• Material: Papier-mâché
• Dimensions: H 12 × L 4.5 in at the widest part