Antique Hand Painted Papier Maché Love Letter Box: C19th Kashmir, India

Item Details.
Dating from the first half of the 19th century this rare and romantic box for love letters, covered with traditionally hand painted florals, lovebirds and trailing rose decorations .

The colours of this box are subtle and beautiful and are more muted than in later paper maché examples.

Hand painted by skilled craftsmen onto a pale creamy yellow with pinks, blues and gold. The aesthetic attention to detail and refinement is inherent in all forms of Kashmiri art. Papier-mâché has long been a particular favourite and this beautiful box has been carefully designed with a domed lid and sectioned interior in which to store your treasured correspondence.

Writing about the craft of papier mache for the Delhi Durbar exhibition catalogue of 1903, Sir George Watt writes;
'Kashmir papier differs considerably from that of Europe. The paper is never exactly reduced to a pulp. It is simply softened and pasted together, layer upon layer, within a mould until by repeated slow drying and replacing within the mould while additions are made the article attains the correct shape and desired thickness. While moist it is wrapped round with a thin muslin rag and covered with a layer of a dressing material said to be plaster-of-paris (or gach). The article is next smoothed and rubbed down till it is given the required uniform surface to allow of the ground colour (zamin) being imparted. When this is dry the pattern is painted in water colours and when thoroughly set is glazed by the purest and most transparent varnish procurable.
This is usually made from copal (sundras) dissolved in turpentine, not boiled in oil”

A rare and beautiful box to keep precious memorabelia, cards, letters, invitations etc, which would be lovely as part of a collection or display, and would make a unique and lovely wedding or engagement present.

Measurements.
24.5cm wide
15cm tall
12 deep

Condition.
In very good antique condition, some very minor knocks and cracks to the paint, in keeping with age and use.