Kashmir silver leaf

Kashmir, considered a kind of paradise since Mughal time, was known for its shawls of a characteristic paisley design, said to resemble the form of a mango. Local silversmiths, predominantly Muslim by culture, incorporated paisley patterns into silver objects. Popular forms include the region’s forms of kashukul (boat-shaped bowl) and kangri (a hand-warmer made to hold charcoal), which were incorporated into tea services.


Another popular Kashmiri theme for silver was the Chinar-leaf design. The booune (chinar) was introduced to Kashmir in about 1586, by Akbar, who arranged for the planting of about 1200 booune trees near the sacred shrine of Hazratbal. The next autumn, when the leaves of the booune tree turned red, the emperor saw the tree from afar and cried out, “Chin-nar!” which means blazing color. From that time forward, the tree was called Chinar and considered the characteristic emblem of Kashmir.