Kashmir
is home to some of the best walnut wood carving done anywhere in the
world. Wood carving is done on a variety of objects-ranging from
furniture (tables, chairs, writing desks, dining tables etc.) to
articles of personal use like cigarette boxes, cigar boxes, jewelry
boxes, photo frames and various other articles. Walnut is the most
common wood used for carving. Kashmir is the only part of India
where the walnut tree grows. Its color gain and sheen are unique and
the carving and fret work that is done on this wood is of the finest
quality. Walnut wood from the root is almost black, and the grain
here is much more pronounced than the wood of the trunk, which is
lighter in color. The branches have the lightest color, almost
blonde and have no noticeable grain. The intrinsic worth of the wood
from each part of the free differs wood from the root being the most
expensive. There are several varieties of carving deep the most
expensive. There are several varieties of carving deep carving,
usually with dragon or lotus flower motifs shallow carving, done all
over the flat surface open or lattice work usually depicting the
chinar motif and semi carving which is a thin panel along the rim of
a surface with perhaps a center matif. The advantage of semi carving
is that it allows the grain of the wood to be displayed, together
with the carver's skill. Wax polishing brings out the inherent sheen
of walnut wood and is by far the most popular finish. Since varnish
obscures the grain of the wood and alters its hue its rarely used.
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