Kashmir rug | 231 x 140 cm | Nr. Z-1219

Floral Kashmir rug, dark red with border and medallion

Origin	Kashmir
Dimensions	231 cm x 140 cm (= 3.23 m²)
Construction	hand-knotted
Material	Pile: wool Weft & Warp: cotton
knots per m²2	560.000
Pile height	5mm
Year of manufacture	1990
Colour	Dark red, dark blue
Edition	one-of-a-kind piece

Origin

The mountainous land of Kashmir in the Himalayas is divided: one third belongs to Pakistan as a province, while the other two thirds form the union state of "Jammu and Kashmir", which is part of India. The population of the larger union state is predominantly Muslim and seeks independence. The hand-knotted rugs come exclusively from the Indian part of Kashmir and are knotted mainly in the provincial capital Srinagar and the surrounding area. Kashmir's silk rugs are famous, and they are usually made on a cotton foundation.

The colours of Kashmir rugs are rather restrained, and the patterns are influenced by traditional Persian designs. This goes back a long way, as the Mughal emperors (1526-1857) once brought Persian rug knotters to their court in India. That is why people also speak of the Indo-Persian style. Another legend, however, has it that in 1398 the tribute-paying Sultan of Kashmir had to send his son as a hostage to Timur Lenk (Tamerlane) in Samarkand. There the young prince came to know the craft of knotting and, on his return, introduced it in Kashmir together with knotters from Samarkand.

Pattern

The decorated surround (border) forms a beautiful contrast to the centre and shapes the transition at the edge of the rug.

The lush floral motifs of this Kashmir rug are elegant and full of variety. The graceful plant symbols, depicting blossoms, leaves and branches, are artfully intertwined.

At the heart of the central field of this Kashmir rug lies the symmetrical centre, also known as the medallion. The design of the field is subordinate to the medallion, so that the medallion seems to float on the field.

The overall impression is dominated by dark red and dark blue. The border is worked in dark red and beige. In the dark blue centre, light red and beige are combined.

Condition

You are not the first to take a liking to this Kashmir rug. It has had owners before you who valued and used it. The pile has grown thinner in places. It was hand-knotted around 1990. We have cleaned it thoroughly and restored it with great care. Despite its age, it is therefore in very good condition.

Material

The pile of this Kashmir rug was hand-knotted from high-quality new wool. New wool is obtained by gently shearing sheep. It is a renewable, natural raw material with a number of impressive properties: thanks to the wool's natural lanolin content, the surface repels droplets of water and is thus naturally proofed against dirt. Wool also offers excellent thermal insulation, helps regulate the indoor climate and dampens sound. The weft and warp threads of this Kashmir rug are made of cotton. This versatile material is tear-resistant and elastic, which makes it particularly well suited to a hard-wearing foundation weave.