Kashmir Craft Glossary

A radiant, circular motif shaped like a rising sun.

The Aaftaab motif illuminated the corners of the Pashmina.

A specialized hooked needle used in Crewel and Chain stitch.

Artisan replaced the broken Aari tip.

Hooked needle embroidery.

The Aari work gave the rug a beautiful texture.

Executes hook embroidery for crewel and chain stitch.

A large fabric piece covered in Aari chain stitch for beds.

Hook-based chain stitch executed continuously on a tensioned frame.

Hooked needle for chain stitch embroidery

A woolen shawl heavily embroidered with continuous Aari chain stitch.

Cloud band motif of Chinese/Persian origin.

The Abra motif framed the central medallion.

Silk yarn used in high-end carpet weaving.

The Abrisham gave the carpet a luminous sheen.

Simplified five-point star mimicking the leaf.

A deconstructed floral shape.

A deconstructed paisley shape.

Wooden embroidery frame.

The fabric was stretched tightly across the Adda.

Boils rice to create the structural adhesive paste.

A traditional glue made from boiled rice.

Money given to artisans or workshop owners before production begins.

Wire transfer of funds before goods are shipped.

A trader who collects finished goods from disparate rural artisans.

Receipt issued by an international airline for goods.

Walnut wood native to Kashmir.

The artisan selected a seasoned piece of Akhrot.

A type of embroidery where the pattern appears like a reflection.

The Aksi embroidery left no visible knots.

A reversible shawl where the pattern on the back is a different color than the front.

A carpet pattern with no central medallion, covered entirely in repeating motifs.

An almond-shaped variation of the paisley.

Another local term for the paisley motif.

The Ambi was intricately woven into the shawl.

An embroidered Pashmina shawl.

The Amlikar shawl took three years to embroider.

The inner lining or base material inside boxes.

The Andaroo was coated in rich black.

A box shaped and painted exactly like a Kashmiri apple.

Small, rounded leaves.

Sewing smaller pieces of fabric onto a larger base, primarily used in Gabba.

Estimated value assessment of a craft product based on knot density, age, or material purity.

A young learner acquiring basic skills under an Ustad.

Interlaced vine, tendril, floral or geometric pattern.

A pointed or scalloped arch.

A generic trade term for room-sized carpets (e.g., 8x10 ft).

An artisan who specializes solely in Ari work.

The Ari-kash completed the rug in one week.

Government-issued ID proving the maker is a registered artisan.

Initiatives (like HCRF) aimed at giving artisans direct market access and fair pricing.

Meaning 'pure' or 'original' in Kashmiri craft trade.

The trader swore the fabric was Asal Pashmina.

A variant pronunciation of Pashm in certain dialects.

The Ashm was ready for the Charkha.

A rice-based paste or glue.

The artisan prepared a fresh batch of Atij for the pulp.

Verification of craft identity, material, origin, and process.

Chinar leaf painted in fiery red and gold.

Testing proving dyes do not contain banned carcinogenic AZO compounds.

Transactions between manufacturers and brands/retailers.

Direct sales to the end user.

A small, ultra-soft pashmina weave for infants.

Punches the background wood to create a matte texture.

Lower beam holding finished rug

The iconic teardrop or paisley motif.

The Badam motif dominated the shawl's border.

A weaver.

The Bafanda worked on the loom for ten hours.

The act of weaving.

The Baft of this carpet is incredibly tight.

Purple dye color.

The Baingni threads were used for the lotus motif.

A straight line of embroidery.

The shawl was framed with a delicate Bale.

A design featuring prominent Bale (straight lines).

The customer requested a simple Baledaar pattern.

A Persian term meaning 'fixing' or 'joinery'.

The Band technique used for the ceiling was flawless.

A long cylindrical box designed to hold Indian bangles.

Applies gesso primer

Applies the chalk/gesso base over the dried pulp.

A massive carved headboard for luxury beds.

A small cabinet with drawers for the bedroom.

A hollow bell shape with a clapper, used as a Christmas ornament.

Pumps air

Decorative or functional fireplace bellows with carved wooden handles and leather.

A merchant or trader.

The Beopari shipped the Namdas to Delhi.

Made-to-order goods tailored specifically to a high-net-worth client's demands.

Document issued by a carrier for ocean freight (used for heavy carpets/woodwork).

A boteh containing a hidden bird form.

Nature-inspired decorative motif of songbirds.

The invocation 'In the name of God' stylized as a shape.

Stamps the carved block onto the fabric as an embroidery guide.

A branch heavy with blooms.

Transfers yarn to shuttles

The carving of animal bone (often camel or buffalo, historically) to mimic ivory for jewelry and small boxes.

An X-shaped folding stand for holding sacred books, decorated with Naqashi.

An X-shaped folding stand for sacred books, carved from a single block of wood (hingeless).

A specific dye yielding deep shades.

Bordugh was used for the Matn of the carpet.

Historical Persian term for the paisley motif.

The Boteh originated in ancient Persian textiles.

Small, high-end international retailers seeking bespoke, ethical goods.

A decorative bowl, historically used for dry fruits or display.

The dyer of wool.

The Bozgar prepared the madder root bath.

An alloy of copper and zinc.

A round or oval basket specifically used for Kashmiri local breads (Tchot, Girda).

Repeating rectangular blocks.

A highly decorated, colorful Kangri with silver chains and mirrors, gifted during weddings.

A heavily embroidered (Sozni or Tilla) red or white shawl for brides.

A local term for lightweight fir wood.

The Budloo wood provided a stark color contrast.

Traditional wood-burning heater.

The Bukhari kept the workshop warm in Chilla-i-Kalan.

A small songbird perched on a branch.

Smoothing or finishing surface

Birch bark.

The Burza layer protected the intricate ceiling.

A stylized butterfly.

A customized request for specific designs, colors, and quantities.

A large storage cabinet or sideboard, heavily carved on all doors and panels.

Measures thickness

Script-based sacred or decorative motif.

A 3D sculptured camel, heavily painted.

A decorative stand for candles (usually requires a metal insert for safety).

A heavy, durable fabric.

The artisan who combs and prepares raw wool.

The Carder removed the coarse guard hairs.

A flower with serrated edges.

Dyer or color specialist preparing the wool or silk yarn.

Rare application of chain stitch over a flat-woven rug base to mimic a knotted carpet.

Washes, stretches, and shears the final carpet to ensure uniform pile height.

Holds warp threads for weaving

Shears the carpet pile to a uniform height

Performs the rigorous final chemical and water wash of the carpet.

Executes the intricate knotting on the loom following the Talim.

A side or coffee table featuring deep relief carving on the top and legs.

A solid, prepared piece of wood ready for the chisel.

Engraving, cutting, carving

Curved carving cuts

Fine whittling

A 3D sculptured cat, often painted in the Hazara style.

Document proving the product was manufactured in India/Kashmir.

A large woven shawl or blanket.

He wrapped a thick Chadar around himself.

A foundational technique where stitches form an interconnected chain, used in Aari and Crewel.

A flat-woven canvas rug entirely covered in concentric circles of thick chain stitch embroidery.

A flat canvas rug completely covered in concentric chain stitch embroidery.

A dining or lounge chair with carved backrests and legs.

A white primer applied over the dried pulp.

A shawl featuring a central moon (medallion) and four quarter-moons in the corners.

The cashmere goat native to Ladakh.

Changthangi goats thrive above 4,000 meters.

The cleaner or finisher of copperware.

The Charakgar wiped down the samovar before it went to market.

Stores indigo/charcoal powder

The traditional spinning wheel.

The rhythmic sound of the Charkha echoed.

The 'eye of the nightingale' motif.

The ceiling featured a Chasma-e-Bulbul pattern.

Alternating squares of color.

A heavy blanket woven with a checked pattern.

A pashmina woven with a geometric check pattern.

A functional chess board painted with Naqashi, often including painted pieces.

A carved chess board with hand-carved wooden pieces.

V-shaped repeating zig-zags.

A chisel used in wood carving.

He used a U-shaped Chhni for the Chinar leaf.

The Oriental Plane tree leaf motif.

The Chinar leaf took three weeks to carve.

Chinar leaves connected by looping vines.

A branch bearing multiple chinar leaves.

The iconic five-pointed leaf of the Oriental Plane tree.

A tray physically molded into the shape of a Chinar leaf.

A central medallion formed by radiating chinar leaves.

The act of beating the weft down.

The Chop resounded through the weaving hall.

A tightly sealed box for cigars, taking advantage of walnut's density.

A carpet woven on a specialized loom to create a perfect circle, requiring highly complex Talim coding.

A hand-knotted carpet in a perfect circular shape.

A decorative wall clock face painted in Naqashi.

A carved wooden housing for a clock mechanism.

A stylized, undulating ribbon-like cloud.

A set of 4-6 flat discs used under glasses, stored in a matching box.

A set of 4-6 carved wooden discs in a matching holder.

Specializes in blending multiple shades of wool in a single petal.

Reads the Talim instructions aloud to multiple weavers on a large loom.

Grinds and mixes natural pigments and binders.

Wooden or metal comb used to compact knots

The official bill of sale used for customs clearance.

Percentage paid to agents, guides, or middlemen for facilitating a sale.

Shared infrastructure (e.g., dyeing vats, washing plants) for a cluster.

Goods placed with a seller where payment is only made after the item sells.

A registered group of artisans pooling resources to manufacture and sell.

Anvil for solid base

A bowl used for serving food or display, tinned inside if for food.

Cleans and removes oxidation/acid residues after engraving.

Layout, circles, symmetry

Engraves floral and geometric patterns into the shaped copper vessel.

Hammer for shaping metal

A water pitcher, often heavily engraved.

A large hammered copper pot for indoor plants.

A decorative or functional copper plate, heavily engraved.

Polishes the metal to a high mirror shine.

Flat sheets of raw copper.

Smith or maker of the copper vessel form from raw sheets.

Stake used for shaping metal

A flat serving tray, heavily engraved with Kandkari.

The forging and engraving of copper into utilitarian and decorative vessels, notably the Samovar.

Quarter-paisleys nestled in the corners.

A basic woven cotton fabric.

Spun cotton yarn used for stitching.

The structural longitudinal threads made of strong cotton.

Weaving of basic cotton fabrics like Dusooti.

The transverse threads inserted between rows of knots.

Spun thread made from the cotton plant.

Fake goods mimicking traditional Kashmir crafts (often machine-made in other states/countries).

Geographic concentration of interconnected artisans and workshops.

Efforts to bring back extinct or dying craft techniques (e.g., glazed pottery, specific Kani weaves).

A national certification for authentic handicrafts.

The product bore a Craftmark authentication label.

A national certification for authentic Indian handmade craft processes.

Surface embroidery using coarse wool yarn on cotton.

The Crewel curtains featured bold floral patterns.

Fills large motifs with thick wool yarn using an awl/hook.

Thick cotton/canvas fabric heavily embroidered with wool for home decor.

A small canvas square embroidered with crewel work.

Thick wool yarn stitched using an Aari hook to fill large floral motifs on heavy canvas.

A geometric cross.

A boteh topped with a crown-like floral spray.

A decorative cup, often sold in sets with coasters or trays.

The process of getting goods through the destination country's borders.

Taxes levied by international governments on imported crafts.

Cuts Sakhta off mold

Embroidery using coiled metallic wire that is cut into small pieces and stitched down.

A specific silver stamping or embossing technique.

The Dabu work gave the bowl a textured finish.

A trumpet-shaped spring flower.

A heavy, comb-like tool used in carpet weaving.

The thud of the Daftun echoed in the hall.

Asymmetrical boteh that appears to sway.

Repairing holes in textiles by interweaving yarn.

The darning was totally invisible to the naked eye.

A tailor.

The Darzi stitched the Tilla panels onto the velvet.

The handle of a traditional tool or vessel.

The Dasteh of the chisel was worn smooth.

A cycle where artisans take advances and are forced to work at depressed rates to pay it off.

Small, finely woven baskets dyed in bright colors for export/tourists.

A pre-assembled section of Khatamband sold for export or modern home installation.

A solid or hollow egg shape, heavily decorated (resembling Faberge eggs).

A leaping deer or gazelle.

A massive, heavy-bottomed copper cauldron used by Wazas (chefs) to cook Wazwan.