Carved walnut wood

Kashmir, being blessed with abundant forest resources, wood was the primary means of construction in Kashmir, being used not only for houses but also for palaces and other royal buildings. It would not be an exaggeration to assume that some of the wood used in the finer buildings was painted and/or carved. Indeed, due the very nature of wood and the many fires that Kashmir has suffered, very little evidence of decorative/carved wood remains. There are a few rare examples in museums of intractably carved wood, surrounding the statue of a Hindu deity. Another bit of evidence comes from the carving on the door frames of the temples at Alchi, near Ladakh, an adjacent region to Kashmir. Even today, one can see evidence of decorative wood carving in the windows, doors, support pillars and ceilings of some of the remaining homes that were built in the last century or earlier. Suffice it to say that the art of decorative carved wood has a very long history in Kashmir. 

But when we talk about the art of Kashmiri walnut wood carving, in the last century or so, it is not in reference to the decorative elements on buildings or houses. Rather, it is the intricate carving on English and European furniture, some utilitarian objects other decorative objects, that would have been used at in English and European homes at that time. And the only type of wood used for such carving is Kashmiri walnut wood. Interestingly, while Europe and the UK moved on to newer styles, to this day, the carved walnut wood furniture, available in Kashmir, is of the Queen Anne, and Victorian style and the articles of furniture are still reminiscent of those ears. Walnut wood shops in Kashmir still make and sell writing bureaus, kidney desks, Queen Anne chairs and dining tables, lingerie chest - and yes, even cake stands! 

Sadly, as with other art forms of Kashmir, the craftsmanship of Kashmiri wood carver has severely declined over the past century. Yes, one can still find, what may appear to be, very intricate carving but when you compare the details with the carved walnut wood in my collection, it becomes quickly evident that the artistic vision of the drawer and the skill of the craftsman has been replaced by the hurried, repetitive and superficial strokes of the distracted craftsman. He merely mimics the artistry of his forefathers but fails to replicate the exquisite quality of their craft. 

The few pieces of walnut wood in my collection are again, hard to date accurately. It may be tempting for a novice to date the collection based on the style of furniture that was prevalent in Europe and the UK. BUT While the styles give us a clue as to when they were first introduced, but because the styles were repeated, without regard to the styles that were actually prevalent in the European and English homes. So, yet again, based on the scant references available, most of my collection can be dated to the late 19th and early 20th century.