The year 1320 AD marks a significant shift in the socio-cultural history of Kashmir with the transfer of power from Hindu to Muslim rule and the establishment of the Sultanate in the valley. As with most other Muslim dynasties of that time in the Indian sub-continent, the ruling elite of the Sultans of Kashmir comprised a large number of foreigners, especially Persians and Central Asians. These foreigners included missionaries, preachers, men of letters, swords and merchants who bought with them an appreciation of art and crafts that had developed in the wider Islamic world. Hence the Sultanate rule laid the foundation for the evolution of a unique cultural ethos showing synthesis between the ancient traditions of Kashmir and a host of new ideas originating from Persia, Arabia and Central Asia.

The two men who stand out for their contribution to the development of this new culture are Mir Syed Ali Hamdani and Sultan Zain-ul Abideen. Syed Ali or as he is popularly known as Shah-i-Hamdan was a famous Persian mystic who is said to have been responsible for the widespread conversion to Islam of people in Kashmir. The Syed who fled to Kashmir from Persia following Timur’s invasion brought with him a host of artisans and craftsmen who found favor with local court. The 15th Century king of Kashmir Sultan Zain-ul-Abideen supplemented this work of Syed Ali. Most traditional historical references maintain that Zain-ul-Abideen invited craftsmen from all part of Islamic world especially from Iran and Central Asia. Indeed according to popular legends, Zain-ul-Abideen is said to have spent some time at Smarkand before his accession to the throne. This journey to the then heart of the Islamic civilization if it did actually take is would indeed have imbibed the young prince with a refined taste for art and crafts that were yet lacking in his own kingdom. And once he ascended the throne, the Sultan made a sustained attempt (even coercion) to enrich his land. Amongst the various crafts that got introduced in this period is the art of making lacquered pen cases known as kar-i-kalamdan.