This is Kashmir’s signature hardwood craft—fine, close-grained Juglans regia carved by hand into furniture, panels and objets d’art. Below you’ll find what’s legally “authentic,” how to spec and test it, the HS anchors you’ll ship under, and current export signals—citing official GI and government sources.
What “Kashmir Walnut Wood Carving” legally means
- GI title & number: Kashmir Walnut Wood Carving is a registered Geographical Indication (Application No. 182; Registered Proprietor Tahafuz). The official record confirms Registered status.
- Quality Manual (2023 update): GI Certificate No. 162; Classes 8, 20 & 27 (hand tools; furniture & decorative articles; wall hangings). GI specs require: walnut from Kashmir; cultivated varieties Wantu/Dun/Khakazi; trunk/base timber (not branches); well-seasoned wood; hand-carving by Kashmiri naqash; traditional motifs; styles incl. undercut, raised, engraved, jālī, daga-kīl. Items are tested and sealed with a QR-coded “break-to-remove” GI label.
why India’s make is distinct
- Where/how it’s made: Srinagar and surrounding Kashmir Valley clusters. The craft uses a chisel-and-mallet vocabulary—raised, engraved, undercut, jālī, daga-kīl—covering everything from panels to boxes.
- Material advantage: Indian (Kashmir) Juglans regia (English/European walnut) is prized for ~640 kg/m³ avg. dried density and ~1,220 lbf Janka—a sweet spot for crisp carving and dimensional stability relative to weight.
- Cluster factoid for copy: Govt. tourism notes an estimated ~600 artisans in Srinagar (Fateh Kadal locality), and highlights walnut’s close grain & even texture as craft enablers.
What to merchandise
- Carved Furniture (tables, cabinets, screens, beds)
Fix species (Juglans regia), moisture/seasoning, panel thickness, joinery, and carving style (raised/undercut). Use this bucket when the piece’s principal function is furniture. - Decorative Articles & Ornaments (boxes, statuettes, trays, bowls, frames)
Specify carving depth & motif set (chinar, vines, florals), finish (oil/shellac/PU), and felt/lining where relevant. - Architectural Panels / Doors / Wall Hangings
Lock substrate (solid vs. framed), back-bracing, and hanger spec; GI Class 27 covers wall hangings.
HS anchors
- Furniture (of wood): HS 9403 (e.g., tables, cabinets, screens, beds). For classification nuance on “other furniture,” see USITC Chapter 94 notes.
- Decor articles / ornaments / inlaid work / caskets: HS 4420. (Common for carved boxes, statuettes, inlaid panels.)
- Picture/photo/mirror frames (wood): HS 4414.
- Tableware & kitchenware (wood bowls/trays): HS 4419.
- Builders’ joinery (doors, frames, panelling): HS 4418 (if sold as joinery rather than décor)
credible, India/J&K-specific signals
- Kashmir handicraft exports (Q1 FY26): ₹309.62 crore (official Handicrafts & Handloom Dept., Kashmir)—highest Q1 in four years. Use as a category momentum slide.
- Craft-wise breakdown (FY 2023–24): Walnut wood carving ₹1,227.63 lakh; alongside carpets ₹4,701.74 lakh, papier-mâché ₹1,715.46 lakh, etc. (Govt. briefing reported by Kashmir Life). Cite this when buyers ask “Is there export throughput?”
Quality & verification checklist
- Material & seasoning: Juglans regia (Kashmir), trunk/base only (no branches), well-seasoned; note cultivars Wantu/Dun/Khakazi on tech packs.
- Carving & motifs: Call out style (raised/undercut/engraved/jālī/daga-kīl), motif library, carving depth, strokes per cm, and surface prep.
- Finish: Oil/shellac/PU system, sealer coats, gloss level, rub tolerance; corner & edge radius to control chip risk.
- Authentication docs: GI test certificate + QR label list (map label IDs to cartons/SKUs).
Compliance (EU/US/UK): wood legality & coatings
- EU: The EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) covers wood & derived products (Ch. 44/94). Application was formally delayed by 12 months—current start December 2025 (most companies). Plan to collect plot-level geolocation, legality proofs, and risk assessments for your Kashmir walnut supply. See Commission guidance hub.
- US: Lacey Act declarations for plant/wood products (species + country of harvest) are required at import; APHIS maintains the current scope and filing portal. If any composite wood is used (ply, MDF in carcasses), ensure TSCA Title VI formaldehyde compliance & import certification.
- Coatings (lead): If selling children-directed items (generally not advised for carved décor), 16 CFR 1303 limits lead in surface coatings; otherwise keep marketing as home décor and still specify low-lead systems.
India’s sourcing strengths
- Codified authenticity + traceability: GI manual enforces origin (Kashmir wood), craft styles, and QR-coded labels—useful for premium positioning and anti-counterfeit.
- Material-to-method fit: English/European walnut (Juglans regia) combines carvability with stability—a technical edge for high-relief work versus softer/looser-grained hardwoods.
- Cluster depth: Institutional support via Craft Development Institute (CDI) and the Handicrafts Department improves certification throughput and buyer confidence.
clip-ready
- Spec block: “Material Juglans regia (Kashmir); cultivars Wantu/Dun/Khakazi; timber from trunk/base only; wood well-seasoned; carving [raised/undercut/engraved/jālī/daga-kīl]; motif: [chinar/vine/floral/…]; finish [oil/shellac/PU] with [gloss/Matte]; size & tolerance [x]; edge radius [x]; hardware [if any].”
- Docs: “Provide GI test certificate + QR label IDs per SKU; HS [9403/4420/4414/4419/4418] as applicable; Lacey species/harvest country data; (if composite) TSCA Title VI compliance statement.”
Quick FAQs
- Is all ‘walnut carving’ in India GI-certified?
No—only goods meeting the Kashmir Walnut Wood Carving GI specs and carrying QR GI labels qualify for the GI claim. - Which HS code do we use?
Furniture → 9403; decorative boxes/ornaments → 4420; frames → 4414; bowls/trays → 4419; joinery panels/doors → 4418.
Any current export signals?
Govt. data show ₹309.62 cr handicraft exports from Kashmir in Q1 FY26 and ₹1,227.63 lakh for walnut wood carving in FY 2023–24.
