A rare Indian contemporary Rug. Sourced from my comprehensive catalogues of current and past auction items.
The History of Indian rugs:
Indian rugs, not be confused with Native American rugs, refer specifically to carpets from India, although in their earliest incarnation, Indian rugs were not made in India, but imported from Persia by the emperor Akbar in the 1500's. The origin of the Indian rug, therefore, was one intended specifically for the court to adorn palaces; weaved pieces of art. It was actually during Akbar's reign that (1556-1605) that weavers were encouraged to come to the court workshop and contribute to the free flow of ideas and design exchange. This exchange created amongst the most inventive and spirited weavings of that time period.
Utilizing time honoured techniques the two major weaving districts in India are in Agra as well as the area around Jaipur, southwest of Delhi. Both districts produce an incredible assortment of rugs weaved by master artisans who treat every rug as a work of art.
Using the ancient technique of hand knotting, these Indian rugs are truly a work of art. The very detailed designs and involved patterns flow seamlessly and are the mark of a highly experienced weaver(s). The actual process of individually hand knotting each fibre is extremely lengthy (can take 6 months or more) depending on the KPSI (knots per sq. inch) which can be anywhere between 64 to 200 KPSI! More than one weaver may participate in the weaving process. The partnership amongst the weavers is crucial in creating the flow required to achieve the coordinated and smooth designs so prevalent in the Indian Rugs seen here. The beauty of the Indian culture is translated into these Indian Rugs through the grace and skill of India's weavers.
Description of Serapi Style:
Serapi as a design of carpet originated in sixteenth century India. Originally it was more floral with brighter colours. Today, Serapi's are woven in north-western Iran in and around Heriz. Today's Serapi's look more geometric and use a lot of earth tones. And the fact that they are mostly larger sizes with a thick pile, makes them very similar to the rugs of Heriz. A true Serapi is an antique Serapi.
Please note the original dimensions of this rug. Although supplied as modifiable, over stretching may distort the pattern. Also note that as a representation of a handmade product it may have less than perfect linage. This part of the beauty of such a rug.
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