Kashmir rug in pure silk | 152 x 89 cm | Nr. 20726

Kashmir rug in pure silk

Delivery time	2 days
Origin	Kashmir
Dimensions	152 cm x 89 cm (= 1.35 m²)
Construction	hand-knotted
Material	Pile: pure silk
knots	490.000
Condition	pre-owned, but in very good condition (cleaned & restored)
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 silk of the pile of this Kashmir rug in pure silk makes the colours of the pattern shine – depending on the light – in a variety of facets. It turns this Kashmir rug in pure silk into a real highlight and creates an atmosphere in the room that is cosy and at the same time very elegant and refined. Silk is obtained by hand from the cocoons of the silkworm. Because the individual silk filaments are extremely long, very fine yarns can be made that are light in weight yet still tear-resistant. The fine yarn makes it possible to tie smaller rug knots and so to create finer patterns. This is why the finest rugs in the world are hand-knotted from pure silk.

The weft and warp threads of this Kashmir rug in pure silk are made of cotton. This versatile material is tear-resistant and elastic and therefore particularly well suited to a hard-wearing foundation.

Condition

You are not the first to take a liking to this Kashmir rug in pure silk. It has had owners before you who valued and used it. The fringes could do with some repair in places. It was knotted around 17. We have cleaned it thoroughly and restored it with care. That is why – despite its age – it is in very good condition.