Woodcraft of north India is popular all across the world. The rich variety of trees and timbers offer best quality of woodwork, done by skilled artists.
Kashmir is the only state in India, where walnut trees grow and the craftsmen here create intricate carvings on wood obtained from the walnut tree. Furniture items like tables; chairs, stools, partitions and others have rich floral and trellis patterns carved on them. Carving done on walnut tree is either deep or shallow. Items like tables, fruit trays and bowls etc are also decorated with inlay work. Wax polishing is done on completed products, so that the beauty of the wood grain is not lost.
Presently wood sector of Kashmir comprises two units one at Pampore Kashmir and the other one at Baribrahmana. Due to devastating fire incident during 1987 the Plant and Machinery and Buildings pf Govt. Joinery Mills, Pampore got gutted completely. Some machines were repaired and some were re-installed. It was founded in 1953-54 and features a complete range of wood working machinery imported from Sweden. It includes unique seasoning Kiln and one Impregnation plant. This wood factory of Kashmir was taken over by JKI in October 1963. The Govt. Joinery Mills, Baribrahmana, Jammu was set up in the year 1973 to cater to the requirements of Furniture in Jammu region and adjoining areas of Punjab and Delhi.
Wood craft in Kashmir features designs of the Khatumband category, namely Moje, Moje Lehar, Teen Bakshish, Chaar Bakshish, Charr Gul, Panch Murabba, Sheesh Gul, Dus Baraan, Dehwaz Deh Girid and many more. One will be amazed to see the beautiful Khatumband design at the holy shrine, Khankahi Moulla, in Srinagar. With the increase in modernization, people love to decorate their houses and offices with attractive Khatumband woodcraft that helps them to change their dreams into reality. Today people also like to design the walls of their houses or offices by Khatumband. Panelled work is also preferred but most of the people regard Khatumband design. Mostly Deodar wood is used to make Khatumband.
The craftsmen of Kashmir are famous for their immaculate styles in creating wonders on wood. The craftsmen of Kashmir are well known for creating elaborate carvings on the wood obtained from the walnut tree and the furniture items they make have rich floral and trellis patterns carved on them. Though ethnic tensions prevail in Kashmir, Northern most state of India the Kashmiri craft has found a place in the global map. When it comes to the wood craft of Punjab its authentic and discriminating. Woodcraft in Punjab is restricted to making of carved legs of beds and manjis and boxes. Uttar Pradesh has many wood craft centers engaged in making items with lavish engravings out of wood, like vine leaf patterns on sesham wood and toras from teakwood. Woodcraft in north India is still some of the exquisite choices of prospective buyers.
