World’s Most Famous Carpet Traditions from Kashmir and Agra

Famous Carpet Traditions 

India's most Famous Carpet Traditions from Kashmir and Agra

A prayer carpet. James F Ballard

 Imagine a home, an airport, or a hotel with just bare floors room after room, no matter how lovely that floor might be.  Through the ages, carpets have warmed our homes literally and visually, added to the decor, and provided insulation. In many cultures, they are regarded with enormous esteem, part of prayer ceremonies and religious places.  The motifs are replete with history and cultural references, common across geographies and nations.

The history of carpets worldwide is an enormous topic, so it’s best to tackle it country wise. Today I’m going to look at the main traditions in the Indian subcontinent. 

Famous Carpet Traditions : Kashmir carpets

The history of carpet weaving in Kashmir goes back to the 15th century when the Sufi mystic Syed Ali Hamdani brought Persian skills and craft knowledge to the valley via the Silk Route.  He arrived at the invitation of the emperor Zain ul Abadin, along with several artisans skilled in weaving.  Over time, Persian motifs were amalgamated with indigenous flora/fauna to give the carpets a particularly Indian look.  The colors, too, were uniquely Indian because of the practice of using dyed yarns. 

Famous Carpet Traditions
Classic tree motifs of the Kashmir carpet. Image from Handmade in India.
Famous Carpet Traditions
Classic floral motifs of the Kashmir carpet. Image from Handmade in India
India's most Famous Carpet Traditions from Kashmir and Agra

Cypress design from later Mughal period. Fragment of carpet at David Collection.

The Kashmir carpet industry was given a massive fillip by the advent of the Mughals, starting with Akbar and then Jahangir, who both patronized the industry. Their patronage gave several new motifs, such as the mythical fauna and hunting scenes under Akbar, and then natural flora and vines under Jahangir. 

INDIAN FLORAL PATTERNS IN DESIGN AND TEXTILES

Famous Carpet Traditions
Classic carpet motif under Akbar. Fathepur Sikri

As time went on, carpets became increasingly complex, with lattices and millefleur patterns.  Persian inspirations led to the Charbagh and the central medallion design layouts, which are now considered representative of Kashmir carpets. 

THE MUGHAL EMPERORS LOVE FOR BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS AND FLORAL DESIGNS

PAISLEY A GENUINELY GLOBAL MOTIF IN THE DESIGN WORLD

CYPRESS MOTIF, THE MYSTERIOUS STORIES REPRESENTING DEATH AND ETERNAL LIFE

THE STORY OF CASHMERE OR KASHMIR SHAWLS

Famous Carpet Traditions
India's most Famous Carpet Traditions from Kashmir and Agra
Famous Carpet Traditions
A classic Mughal medallion carpet. Nazmiyal antiques

After the fall of the Mughals, the industry fell into disarray, to be revived in the 18th century under Maharaja Ranbir Singh.  When Kashmir carpets were displayed at the Crystal Palace exhibition in London, they caught the imagination of the European public, helping to revive the industry. 

Miraculously,  the process of weaving carpets remains unchanged in Kashmir for over 500 years. The ateliers are known locally as Karkhanas, and knowledge is passed down from father to son through generations, using the master/apprentice system. 

The Kashmir carpet is intricately hand-knotted from vegetable-dyed wool/silk and is woven on a vertical loom. The making  can take up to two years and follows the following method:

  1. Talim, the design of a carpet is step 1, which is the written code, the carpet language that the weavers later follow. The Ustad-Shagird or the Master formulates this because a mistake here can ruin an entire carpet. 
  2. The yarn is dyed and dried in natural sunlight. 
  3. The weaver sets up his loom and weaves following the talim. Knots are tied on the warp strands, and the more knots, the finer the carpet.  
Famous Carpet Traditions
A miniature showing carpet weaving in Kashmir. The process is unchanged
Famous Carpet Traditions
The yarns being dyed. Picture from Gaatha.
Famous Carpet Traditions
The Talim. Picture from Gaatha
Famous Carpet Traditions
Weaving. Picture from Gaatha.

Carpets can be wool, wool/silk, or silk alone, which have a sheen appreciated by many.  Interestingly, Kashmir carpets continue to be named after Persian place names. 

Famous Carpet Traditions : Agra Carpets 

As mentioned above, the Mughals gave extensive patronage to the carpet industry, and Agra, the imperial capital, was an early center set up by Akbar in the 16th century.  As in Kashmir, Persian weavers were invited to set up karkhanas and educate local weavers.  Agra carpets soon rivaled those of Kashmir, reaching their zenith under Shah Jahan.  They were stored in a royal carpet house or farrashkhana, where Akbar spent much time admiring his carpets. 

Famous Carpet Traditions
A classic Agra carpet. From the collection of Sheel Chandra.
Famous Carpet Traditions
An Amritsar jail carpet. From the collection of Sheel Chandra.

In an interesting twist, prisoners in Agra jail were taught carpet weaving, initially to keep them out of fomenting trouble.  Agra jail carpets eventually became a byword for quality, often using Pashmina for the softest carpets.  

The coming of the East India Company set up a profitable trade in Agra jail carpets to Europe, where they were widely popular. Queen Victoria received an Agra jail carpet as a gift when she became Empress of India.  

Agra jail carpets proved so popular that similar centers were set up in  Amritsar, Lahore, Jaipur, and Gwalior. 

India's most Famous Carpet Traditions from Kashmir and Agra

An Agra Mughal silk carpet. Carpet Cellar

The carpet industry still flourishes in Agra, where the Karkhana system, similar to Kashmir, is followed.  These carpets use the asymmetrical Persian knotting system and classical Persian motifs, and the talim system of weaving is followed. Most rugs nowadays are wool or silk on a cotton foundation. 

In my next article, I will speak of the world’s most famous carpet tradition: the famed Persian carpets.

AUTHOR BIO

Mira Gupta

Mira Gupta is a well-known curator and designer in craft-based luxury.  She has had working stints with Fabindia, Good Earth, and Ogaan to promote the cause of craft.  She is deeply interested in art, travel, architecture, and culture.

Read more articles by the Author HERE

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