Sozni Arts

Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir

We are one of the most reckoned antique brass metalware exporters from India. Our exclusive & most exhaustive product line up of antique metalware is inclusive of all types of widely used metal wares. And the best part is that, we offer large volumes of antique metal ware at very economic prices. We, a recognized Kashmiri decorative metalware exporter/supplier are in the process of writing a saga of offering unmatched antique metal wares in terms of all positive aspects, amidst the top line Kashmiri handcrafted metal ware exporters from India. The Kashmiri craftsman has handled metal from ancient times. Practically each important village in Jammu & Kashmir state has a blacksmith who attends to the needs of the local community for simple agricultural tools and implements. This is one of the cottage industries being looked after by the state Khadi and village industries board, under the Khadi & village industries commission of the Govt. of India. Kashmir craftsmen have also extended their ingenuity and skill to work in copper and brass. Utensil-making was and to a considerable extent continues to be a flourishing craft, despite inroads made by the machine-made utensils, especially in stainless steel. About 1000 families are engaged in making copper and brass metal ware in Srinagar city, the major production centre in the valley. About 70% of the work done is in copper. This craft, unlike in other places in India, continues to progress to meet the growing local demand and some percentage is also exported to Middle East and Europe.

We are among the well-known paper mache crafts exporters from India. We bring superior quality papier mache crafts at the most acceptable price. Our Paper Mache handicrafts are universally far-famed for their unmatched quality because they are prepared from top quality raw material. Paper Mache is among the most renowned crafts of Kashmir. The craft represents a rich tradition of craftsmanship that dates back to the reign of Zainul Abidin Budshah (1420-1470 A.D) originally the art of Paper Mache confined to Kari Qalamdani, the making of pen cases. With the passage of time however, the craft developed and recorded a great perfection. Paper Mache as of today covers the whole range of poignant products that keeps the customers alluring throughout the world. Flower Vases, office screen, trays, book jackets and powder boxes are only a few of the decorative and utility items produced in Paper Mache. The art products are embellished after the delicate process of preparation of mould use of pulp and application of colors and designing. The designs that very often recur in making of Paper Mache objects include gul-under-gul (flower within flower) hazara, (the thousand flowers) and gul vilayat (the dear flower). Proficient artisans even render the Mughal miniature paintings in Paper Mache, creating an object of rather an unsurpassed value. Gold powder is also added to some of the objects to make them more alluring. Paper Mache is much sold in France and other European nations. Paper Mache objects worth Rs 27.50 crores were exported in 2005-06. In Kashmir, Paper Mache originated in the form of making pen cases (qalamdans) from paper pulp. The qalamdans were in turn covered with floral or geometric patterns and finished with a coat of 'rogan' (varnish). It was for this reason the craft was initially referred to as kar-i-qalamdan (the art of making pen cases) or also kar-i-munaqash (the art of decorating). Over a period of time the craft has evolved into a unique form of surface decoration which was mostly painting (naqashi) applied over an object made completely from paper pulp or employing any light weight material as the base. Thus the term Paper Mache has come to represent the traditional technique and process of surface, rather than the composition of the object which is to be decorated. Nevertheless the actual painting or naqashi is always applied over a ground prepared with sareesh and gypsum and one layer of paper even if the basic object is made out of varied materials like paper board, wood and terracotta.