papier mâché

Papier mâché is one of the many traditional crafts still practised in India. Others include painting, pottery, embroidery, woodwork, metalwork, sculpture, and jewellery-making.

Craft technique using paper pulp or shredded paper mixed with resin or a water-based glue, such as PVA. The pasted paper can then be moulded, modelled, or built up in layers to form the required shape. Once dry the material hardens, and may be painted and lacquered; mother-of-pearl is a traditional decoration. As papier mâché is light, versatile, and cheap to make, it has many decorative uses, including trays, bowls, and even furniture.

Papier mâché is also known to have been used for low reliefs in Italy as early as the 15th century.