On the navy blue base of this raffal shawl is embroidery in numerous colours. The bright colours which go to make up Kashmir's 'gorgeous sunsets, the azure mountains, the sparkling lakes and the variegated flowers and birds, have left their indelible mark on the minds of the workers'. Thus, the Kashmiri artisan transfers nature's beauty and colour into the texture of his embroidery. What we see here is a specific representation of a floral species in natural, bright colours. The single variety of flowers helps in keeping the aesthetic harmony intact. This bunch of flowers have a base out of which arise the plant with serrated leaves and multipetalled iris flowers in orange and pink colours. These floral plants are systematically placed all over the field, with a small stem holding two flowers, and a leaf occupying the space in between. The embroidery is done entirely in chain stitch with the help of an awl called 'ari' by the Kashmiri.
This shawls pattern is not only a representation of nature but an intense collage of colours within traditional forms.
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