Handmade Crafts in the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal

Silver Jewellery, Tibetan Rugs & Paintings, Pottery, Pashmina

Oct 4, 2009

Praised for over 1500 years, Nepalese handmade crafts are increasingly valued at home and abroad, offering quality at affordable prices.

Arts and crafts in the Kathmandu valley are as strong as ever, a major earner for the export trade and families handing down their skills through countless generations.

From practical to religious items, handmade crafts in Nepal reflect the culture of different ethnic groups, including large numbers of Tibetan refugees who settled in the country from 1959 onwards. From silver jewellery to rugs and paintings, from pottery to pashmina or casual knitwear, these superb Himalayan crafts have gained world wide recognition.

Silver jewellery in Kathmandu is traditionally produced by the Sunar and Shakya castes. Only the most basic hand tools are used to craft earrings, pendants, bracelets and rings in both ethnic and western designs. Every piece is endowed with a particular value, energy, success or spirituality, while gems are added for their beauty, as well as auspicious or protective qualities.

Among the most popular stones are garnet, lapis lazuli and moonstone while Tibetans show a marked preference for turquoise and coral. Nepalese craftsmen are also skilled in silver filigree and exquisite items abound in Kathmandu.

First pioneered in Jawalakehl near Kathmandu, Tibetan rugs and carpets are prized for their colours and patterns, strength and lustre said to improve with age. Wool is hand spun and rugs and carpets are knotted by hand, up to 150 knots per square inch for top quality. Both Tibetan and New Zealand wool may be used, with designs ranging from Tibetan to Persian and contemporary.

Tibetan paintings known as Thangka represent Buddhist teachings in colourful pictorial form. They are hung in temples and homes, usually for worship, and are works of art in their own right, often taking months to complete. The best show minute attention to detail and are enriched with gold thread and silk brocade. Mandalas, Hindu gods and auspicious signs may be included.

Pottery in the Kathmandu valley is centred around Bhaktapur and the nearby village of Thimi. Clay is usually collected in early June and all but the largest pots are shaped on a wheel. Pots are an integral part of Nepalese culture, used for storage, washing, curd making and birth and death rituals. Others are reserved for religious purposes. Nepalese pottery is not glazed but often finished in terracotta red.

Brightly coloured knitwear is seen everywhere in the Thamel district of Kathmandu. Pullovers, socks, mittens and hats, or yak wool blankets, it’s perfect for last minute shopping before a trek. But the most tempting fabric is pashmina, or cashmere, soft, light and warm, made from the wool of mountain goats. There are scarves, blankets and shawls in every shade, from pure pashmina to pashmina and silk for summer use.

The copyright of the article Handmade Crafts in the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal in Nepal Travel is owned by Solange Hando. Permission to republish Handmade Crafts in the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.