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Pakistani handicrafts: Intricate and beautiful

Hand embroidered Skull caps inlayed with mirror- cover. PHOTO: FARAH KAMAL

The most popular techniques for pottery include engraving intricate designs into the undercoating of the pottery and then glazing it with colored transparent glazes. PHOTO: FARAH KAMAL

The art of carving on metal not only show the aesthetics of the artisans but also depicts the history and tells stories. PHOTO: FARAH KAMAL

Silver bracelets inlaid with semi precious stones. PHOTO: FARAH KAMAL

Metalwork, including inlaid or engraved traditional style utensils, boxes, dishes, and tea sets made from brass, copper, silver and gold are important crafts. PHOTO: FARAH KAMAL

Intricate colourful hand embroidery with tiny pieces of mirror stitched in the colorful patterns on a patchwork piece. PHOTO: FARAH KAMAL

Handknotted bead work with glazed colorful pottery. PHOTO: FARAH KAMAL

Hand block printing is a technique used for printing texts, images or patterns onto textiles and has been around for centuries. PHOTO: FARAH KAMAL

Earthernware, simple and elegant. PHOTO: FARAH KAMAL

Ceramics and glazed pottery traces back to Indus Valley Civilisation (2500 BC) making it among one of the oldest art forms in Pakistan. PHOTO: FARAH KAMAL

Block printed wall hangings and mirrors. PHOTO: FARAH KAMAL

A traditional style brass kettle. PHOTO: FARAH KAMAL

Pakistani handicrafts are not only intricate and beautiful, but also depict the local culture.

Reader Comments (11)

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abigail

Jul 18, 2012 - 6:28AM

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I am surprised that you have carried this story as most of these handicrafts are of poor quality, lack any imagination (ie the same are cloned for the last 50 years) and some are very very basic designs.

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Someone

Jul 18, 2012 - 11:56AM

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@abigail: Beauty lies in simplicity.

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Rahul

Jul 18, 2012 - 12:24PM

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They are great. May be my understanding of art is not as expansive as ‘abigail”s but to my uninitiated eyes, they all looked so elegant and beautiful specifically some of the brass-work and earthen ware.

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Opinion

Jul 18, 2012 - 12:50PM

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Plz mention the cities

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Tabish Bilgrami

Jul 18, 2012 - 1:22PM

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Finally ET focussed on something other than fashion shows :D

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GlobalNomad

Jul 18, 2012 - 6:29PM

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The folk and cultural art remains same centuries after centuries and that is ts beauty and is all about. Stay surprised Abigail!!!

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Bibi Pakdaman,

Jul 18, 2012 - 7:46PM

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@Abigail,
I lived in texas samll town and here peoples makes and hangs in banks and post offices same like what we have in pakistan called AJrak or Guddi and u know makes these things here in Texas peoples who migrated from zchack o salvakia and Germany hudred years ago…. and peoples really like it and buys it.

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dude108

Jul 18, 2012 - 8:57PM

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looks a mix of pakistani and rajastani

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Shark

Jul 19, 2012 - 1:33AM

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Awesome work Farah!!!

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Shark

Jul 19, 2012 - 1:35AM

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@ dude108: this is typically sindhi culture… one of the oldest civilizations & culture.

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KM

Jul 19, 2012 - 3:13PM

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Really nice

Thank you for showing such a nice collection…..this is promotion of Pakistani art in the true sense, not fashion shows which the ET seems to be obsessed with….

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