Kashmir rug in pure silk | 186 x 120 cm | Nr. Z-4249

Kashmir rug in pure silk, black and white with border and medallion

Origin	Kashmir
Dimensions	186 cm x 120 cm (= 2.232 m²)
Construction	hand-knotted
Material	Pile: pure silk Weft & Warp: cotton
knots per m²2	490.000
Pile height	4mm
Year of manufacture	2005
Colour	Black and white, gold
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 edge of the rug is graced by a surround (border). The border forms a wonderful contrast to the centre.

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 background of this Kashmir rug is cream white. The overall impression is also dominated by black and white and gold. The border is worked in black and white and gold.

Condition

This Kashmir rug had admirers before you. It was hand-knotted around 2005. We have cleaned it thoroughly and lovingly restored it. That is why – despite its age – it is in very good condition.

Material

The silk of this Kashmir rug's pile makes the colours of the pattern shine in ever-changing facets, depending on how the light falls. It turns this Kashmir rug into a real highlight and creates a cosy yet very elegant and refined atmosphere in the room. Silk is obtained by hand from the cocoons of the silk moth. Because the individual silk filaments are extremely long, very fine yarns can be made that stay tear-resistant despite their low weight. Fine yarn allows smaller rug knots to be tied and therefore finer patterns to be created. This is why the finest rugs in the world are hand-knotted from pure silk. The weft and warp threads of this Kashmir rug are made of cotton. This versatile material is tear-resistant and elastic and therefore particularly well suited to a hard-wearing foundation.