Kashmir rug in mercerised cotton | 310 x 243 cm | Nr. Z-4347

Kashmir rug in mercerised cotton

Delivery time	2 days
Origin	Kashmir
Dimensions	310 cm x 243 cm (= 7.53 m²)
Construction	hand-knotted
Material	Pile: mercerised cotton
knots	480.000
Condition	pre-owned and cleaned
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.

Material

The pile of this Kashmir rug in mercerised cotton is made of mercerised cotton. Cotton consists of lustrous fibres filled with cell sap. As the cell sap dries after the harvest, the surface of the fibre curls and loses its lustre through the refraction of light this creates. In the middle of the 19th century, John Mercer invented the process that bears his name, mercerisation (also spelled mercerization). In the course of mercerisation, the cotton is held under tension in cold concentrated caustic soda and takes on a new, higher-grade fibre structure. Mercerised cotton has shortened fibres with a round cross-section. The refined fabric no longer shrinks and holds its shape very well. The altered refraction of light gives the fibre a silky sheen. Mercerised cotton also takes up dye more readily and is considerably more tear-resistant than untreated cotton. Because mercerisation is elaborate and costly, only high-grade cotton fibres are refined in this way. Because of the silky sheen of the yarn, mercerised cotton – like viscose – is often called "artificial silk". The colloquial term "artificial silk" is, however, not permitted under the German Textile Labelling Act (TKG).

The weft and warp threads of this Kashmir rug in mercerised cotton are made of cotton. This versatile material is tear-resistant and elastic, which makes it particularly suitable for a hard-wearing foundation.

Condition

This Kashmir rug in mercerised cotton has a story to tell. It was knotted around 21. It has been cleaned thoroughly and is in good but unrestored condition. The edges are damaged in places. The pile is worn in places. The rug has two tears, each 4 cm long. We have not restored this Kashmir rug in mercerised cotton because we feel it has a special charm just as it is. If you would like us to, we will of course restore the rug for you. Either way, this Kashmir rug in mercerised cotton will give you pleasure for decades to come.