These platters have been exquisitely handcrafted with the finest diyaar wood, and lacquered. The tiles are handmade from the city of Multan, hence you will notice that each tile of the same design varies slightly. This is the beauty and uniqueness of these tiles which are made to order. The wood part of the platter can be simply cleaned with a wet or dry cloth depending whether it is dusty or dirt... Read More

These platters have been exquisitely handcrafted with the finest diyaar wood, and lacquered. The tiles are handmade from the city of Multan, hence you will notice that each tile of the same design varies slightly. This is the beauty and uniqueness of these tiles which are made to order. The wood part of the platter can be simply cleaned with a wet or dry cloth depending whether it is dusty or dirty and the tiles can be wiped with a soapy sponge or cloth after usage. The platter must not be dipped in any detergent or immersed in water. These boards are simply delightful to have on your snack table.
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The cities of Punjab are home to many beautiful different forms of hand embroideries. This chiffon silk lined pouch that you see was hand embroidered using thread, beads and stones. The strings have been woven into a fine braided fashion and thread covered balls have been stitched at the ends for further beauty and depth. This is a traditional three layered pouch used for storing jewellery or can ... Read More

The cities of Punjab are home to many beautiful different forms of hand embroideries. This chiffon silk lined pouch that you see was hand embroidered using thread, beads and stones. The strings have been woven into a fine braided fashion and thread covered balls have been stitched at the ends for further beauty and depth. This is a traditional three layered pouch used for storing jewellery or can even be used for placing sweets in it. It takes around two days to make this pouch .
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Mother of pearl is the iridescent coating on the inside of mollusk shells. When an irritant gets inside a shell, the shell protects itself by coating the irritant with the same material called \'nacre\' of its lining that creates pearls. Hence \'mother of pearl.\' The minerals used to make the nacre are extracted from the food that the mollusk consumes. Both the words are interchangeable that ... Read More

Mother of pearl is the iridescent coating on the inside of mollusk shells. When an irritant gets inside a shell, the shell protects itself by coating the irritant with the same material called \'nacre\' of its lining that creates pearls. Hence \'mother of pearl.\' The minerals used to make the nacre are extracted from the food that the mollusk consumes. Both the words are interchangeable that people do not see much difference between them. Mother of Pearl is a layer of lines inside the shells of molluscs. Also known as Nacre, the Mother of Pearl is a shining layer that forms inside the shell. Abalone and pearl oysters are known as being a good source of Mother of Pearl. Like pearls, mother-of-pearl can be white, gray, silver, yellow, blue-green, bronze, pink, red, brown, black or banded. Arguably the most beautiful mother-of-pearl colors are produced by abalone. These have iridescent and vivid purple, blue and green colors that are highly prized.Nacre is an organic-inorganic composite material produced by some molluscs as an inner shell layer; it also makes up the outer coating of pearls. It is strong, resilient, and iridescent. An Inlay is a decorative technique in which a custom cut stone is glue set into a corresponding unfilled area with the same dimensions so that the “inlaid” material is level with the surface of the piece.
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This month we picked up two sketches we liked. Drawings depict various aspects of life and nature. The essence of time theme attracts our eye. An old fashioned pocket watch, embedded within the manifold petals of a flower. Time can pass amidst petals, spreading its fragrance far and beyond. This sketch is in charcoal, hand drawn , taking a period of around a month to complete. The other sketch de... Read More

This month we picked up two sketches we liked. Drawings depict various aspects of life and nature. The essence of time theme attracts our eye. An old fashioned pocket watch, embedded within the manifold petals of a flower. Time can pass amidst petals, spreading its fragrance far and beyond. This sketch is in charcoal, hand drawn , taking a period of around a month to complete. The other sketch depicts a fashionable young girl in a skirt and off shoulder carrying a gift. The hair is tied back in a neat bun with a wisp of hair falling lightly on the side of the face giving her face definition. Her features are left as food for imagination. The other sketch depicts an increasingly westernised influence on our culture. We would like to capture this moment in time, to show that society in Pakistan is embracing this form of dressing. We found these two pieces a place on one of our chalk finished, metal studded butler trays with a glass top, and the other we placed in a handheld tray. Drawing is a form of visual art in which a person uses various drawing instruments to mark paper. In these two particular drawings graphite pencils were used. Careful attention to reflected light, shadows and highlights have resulted in a very realistic rendition of the images. For shading and blending, a kneaded eraser and a fingertip were used. In figure drawing, an understanding of human anatomy and proportion is an essential skill. It allows an artist to draw a natural pose that does not appear artificially stiff. Composition of the subject is a key element in creating an artistic piece, we are told by the artist. In the drawing \'the essence of time\' interplay of light and shadows as well as the negative spaces between the clock and the flowers are as important as the objects themselves. It took me almost a month to produce these two drawings and hopefully they will please your eye as much. Art is similar to a weapon, in our opinion. It tells a story of time, which is tomorrow\'s history. It depicts culture and society, and we would like all,our pieces to have a purpose to relate.
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Markhor, the national animal of Pakistan dwells high up in its mountains. We wanted to feature it on our scarves so that you have something different and unique to drape over yourself when out and about. Magnificient could describe it in short.The markhor is a large species of wild goat that is found in our country's northern and central parts. We love our digital printed markhor satin silk scar... Read More

Markhor, the national animal of Pakistan dwells high up in its mountains. We wanted to feature it on our scarves so that you have something different and unique to drape over yourself when out and about. Magnificient could describe it in short.The markhor is a large species of wild goat that is found in our country's northern and central parts. We love our digital printed markhor satin silk scarfs to be draped on your shoulders with fusion wear. The colloquial name is thought by some to be derived from the Persian word mar, meaning snake, and khor, meaning "eater", which is sometimes interpreted to either represent the species' ability to kill snakes, or as a reference to its corkscrewing horns. In Pakistan, hunting markhor is legal as part of a conservation process, at an exorbitant cost. Expensive hunting licenses are available from the Pakistani government which allow for the hunting of old markhors which are no longer good for breeding purposes.
We feature this beautiful animal on our scarfs. In British India, hunting the Markhor was and is still considered a fine sport and a challenging game.

Arthur Brinckman, in his The Rifle in Cashmere, "a man who is a good walker will never wish for any finer sport than ibex or markhoor shooting".
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Kashmir, a valley in the ancient Himalayan mountains is unique in its history of the ancient art of craftsmanship of Kashmiri shawls, a word originating from the Persian word 'shal,' a piece of long cloth . Behind this exquisite piece of wraparound lies a history unknown to the majority who wear it. It's true appreciation can only be acknowledged if you actually realise what it is that you are ... Read More

Kashmir, a valley in the ancient Himalayan mountains is unique in its history of the ancient art of craftsmanship of Kashmiri shawls, a word originating from the Persian word 'shal,' a piece of long cloth . Behind this exquisite piece of wraparound lies a history unknown to the majority who wear it. It's true appreciation can only be acknowledged if you actually realise what it is that you are wearing. Its history dates back to the 17th century and earlier, during the period of Akbar, a Mughal emperor who patronised the arts, culture, literature and the weaving of the beautiful shawls only by the hands of the Kashmiri weavers.He provided impetus to promote the weaving of this beautiful piece of embroidered cloth, as fine as silk, yet warm and comfortable to drape over your shoulder, worn by women and men alike. A Pashmina and a Shahtoosh are slightly different in nature . The Pashmina is made of the fine undercoat fibres of the Changthangi,Chegu or Chyangara mountain goat found in Kashmir,Nepal and Tibet ,while the Shahtoosh or the 'king of fine wools' is produced from the fine beard hairs of the Tibetan Chiru Antelope.. The Chiru has been declared an endangered species. It can be run easily through the wedding ring ,hence popularly called the Ring Shawl. It can cost anywhere between $4000-$6000, as it has now been declared a banned item. Banned because poachers were killing the Chiru to acquire quick availability of the fibres for production and hence its sale due to growing demand . The genuine Kashmiri shawl, which is day by day becoming hard to get your hands on, is weaved using the fiber called pashm,of a particular goat , Cashmere, which lives at an altitude of above 4500 m/15000ft, in the Himalayan mountains of Central Asia, where Tibetan nomads would hunt the Chiru and and sell their fibre hairs to the Kashmiri agents , who would then have the Kashmiri artisans weave it into gorgeous eye catching handspun shawls. These artisans belong mainly to families who have passed on this craft down through the generations , hence they became family owned businesses. These beautiful goats called Chiru, roam around wildly and freely, until they are tracked down by nomad poachers, for their valuable fur. In earlier centuries this was not the case. In June when the goat would start to molt, the animal with its thick beautiful coat would run around freely amongst the bushes where it's fiber would left behind and then collected by the Tibetan men who would sell it by weight to the Kashmiri shawl makers.Even if the goat was combed the collection was still insufficient to keep up production of a growing demanding industry , which had developed as the world became aware of the Kashmiri shawl. All elite wanted to own a piece. As the collection of this fiber was so limited and a slow process hence then production of a shawl took time making this an exquisite piece of wraparound and few in number to be sold. It's very tricky to be able to tell the genuine from a fake Shahtoosh/ pashmina shawl. To keep up with growing international demands , manufacturers tend to use artificial fibres which look and feel exactly like the real pashm. So be sure the source your shawl from a reliable stockist and be sure that your paying the right price for what it is that your actually acquiring. Only an eye trained, and the hands that can feel and test the genuineness, can tell if it's the real thing. Just like we can not tell the difference in the qualities of diamonds similarly we can not tell the difference in qualities of shawls. Amazing shawls come in truly amazing colours, patterns, lengths, sizes and embroideries . There are two types, the dochalla or long shawl and the rumal or square shawl. There are many interesting parts to a shawl . It could be just totally plain and solid like the popular limited in number Shahtoosh , produced solely from the fine goat hair. It is so light in weight and fine to the touch and so delicate to wear that one feels as if it just might disintegrate. A fragile shawl but so warm when worn and draped over ones shoulders. The palla, hashia, gallery , field, tanjir or end outer border and the fringe gate like an inner small border are the he parts of a shawl that are designed using different patterns and colours and needles. A person cannot even begin to imagine the endless possibilities while creating designs and mixing colours to produce a beautiful piece of fabric artwork called a shawl. Traditionally the pashmina shawl was plain with an intricately embroidered border with a popular motif. Different motifs were the chinaar or plane tree leaf , buta or paisley, ambhi or mango, mirchi or chilly, turang or cone, badam or almond and Kalka or flame. In itself it is a delightful experience to see the making process of a shawl. In Srinagar, only is the shawl woven . Why? Because the rafugars or weavers with this particular skill are only the Kashmiri men , women and young children as old as ten who are given talim or training of this dieing art. The seniors hunch over with the woven cloth in there hands and embroider away intricate patterns which only their eyes can see and their hands create. There are different types of shawls as well: kani( using special wooden needles), Jami, douroukha(double sided), jaaldaar( network), ari( thick needles), plain solid shawls, paper-mache,sozni( thin needles),kalamkari( hand painted and embroidered), towel, jamavaar, ghulaabkaar, shikara . Many new designs innovations have come into the making of the shawls giving them different names as they are made using different techniques.Pure white and mouse ( gaghur as called in Kashmir the colour brown like that of a rat ) Shahtoosh is very hard to get hold of and in fact is a banned item now. Pure white is more costly as it is rare , difficult to get hold of and collect the hairs of the White Chiru. Pure Pashmina ( less expensive than Shahtoosh) is more expensive than its blended counterpart, which is blended with silk. Pure shawls Shahtoosh and Pashmina mix can cost anywhere upto $15000, as these mixed ones can only support the embroidery on it. Prices vary depending upon the fibres used, the length, the colours, the embroideries, the designs, the family that made it might also be an added factor. To own one or many of these pieces is a privilege, truely admired by those who learn to recognise the hard weeks and years of labour that went into the seniors hunching over this piece of weaved fabric, designing it with the needle so softly slipping into and out of the shawl they now drape over their shoulders and proudly call their very own, from the heart of the valley called Srinagar, Kashmir.
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A tray table, foldable or fixed has a versatile edge to it. It can be used around the house in many ways and manners to suit your propose. Use it as a side table beside the sofa, bedside table to accompany the bed or somewhere around the house to place a lamp or some knick-knacks on it, or simply have your morning tea served on it in your best silverware. We at Shahtoosh offer you a collection of... Read More

A tray table, foldable or fixed has a versatile edge to it. It can be used around the house in many ways and manners to suit your propose. Use it as a side table beside the sofa, bedside table to accompany the bed or somewhere around the house to place a lamp or some knick-knacks on it, or simply have your morning tea served on it in your best silverware. We at Shahtoosh offer you a collection of folding as well as fixed butler's tray tables to give you more choice for mobile accent pieces around your house. We keep adding new pieces, so look out for our new arrivals.
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