Punjab Arts and Crafts
Arts and crafts in Punjab are of two types, either folk crafts, found primarily in rural areas, comprised of cotton textiles, basketry, and embroidery etc…,or royal crafts found in urban areas, particularly in Lahore, where tile, handcrafted woodwork, hand carved ivory and bone, ‘naqqashis’, architectural crafts, as well as silver and gold hand filigreed jewelry are made.

Lahore is the center for hand knotted carpets that are still made in keeping with the same traditions since the Mughal period. Colorful silk and cotton fabrics, like the khaddar cloth of Kamalia, are popular, and still woven on handlooms, either block printed, or beautifully embroidered with fine details by hand.  Multan is most famous for its hand woven bed covers and handmade leather sandals with gorgeous bead work and ornate designs. 

Every village and many markets have potters that can be seen working and producing the same traditional vessels, jugs, cups, and containers as their ancestors did centuries ago.  Multan is known for its blue glazed pottery that can be traced back to Persian influence of the 13th century, hand painted using the same constituents of their predecessors to produce the illustrious colors uniquely produced from this area.  Rawalpindi, Bahawalpur and Gujrat also produces pottery fired in hand made earthen kilns and colorfully painted.

Chiniot is especially known for its hand hewn woodwork a trade that has been past down from generation to generation. Their work is often inlaid with brass, bone, ivory, and semi precious stones from the mountains.  In addition to royal crafts, and carpets, Lahore has many metal designers working with copper, brass and iron producing unique furniture and decorative items.

Graphic Arts, and landscape paintings continue to be produced as well as more complex modern trends. The main art centers in the province are Al-Hamra, the National College of Arts, Fine Arts Department of the Punjab University and the Lahore Art Gallery, all located in Lahore.