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Tradition of Chinese and Indian rugs

Posted On : Nov-02-2011 | seen (480) times | Article Word Count : 1129 |

Kashmir carpet craft has evolved vastly during the middle of the twentieth century, it was felt that the quality now and again was deteriorated.
Indian rugs
Indian Carpet and floorings are a fundamental piece of Indian homes and the history of Indian rugs options its development using pads and durries with a variety of material, ranging from made of woll, cotton, jute, coir, bamboo bedding and grass. History associated with Indian rugs, especially those of that woolen carpets traces to a period as early as 500 B. C. References to the earliest woven mats and floor coverings are available in ancient and medieval Indian native literature.

The history of Indian rugs entails that if Babur came to India, he was disappointed by lack of luxuries here. He missed the luxuries of Persia, which included the Persian carpet and for that reason Akbar laid the base of carpet weaving tradition in India, in 1580 AD at his palace with Agra. With their help he established carpet weavings facilities at Agra, Delhi together with Lahore to facilitate output of Persian styled carpets, which were inspired just by designs of Kirman, Kashan, Esfahan, Heart or anything else. Mughals not only used the Persian technique of carpet weaving, but were also influenced by traditional designs and motifs from Persia. Mughal carpets have been as obscure as their own miniatures and usually depicted court life, animals and floral decorations.

Mughal carpets were brightly coloured and also the hand knotted silk carpeting and rugs had 4224 knots per square inch. However, most well-known type of Indian rugs has been the pile carpet, which arrived at India in the leadership of Akbar in 16th century. In 1580A. Debbie. Akbar brought certain Persian carpet weavers to Of india and established them within India. The art grew and flourished here and it was modified as per the royal tastes and mixed with the Indian arts. The Persian carpets were thus re-created in Indian forms. These carpets spread on the whole subcontinent with each area having its own specialties

Since the start, wool or silks are the essential material of the knotted carpets. The wool may have a diversity of origins using the type of carpet increasingly being made. Silk knots are used in Kashmir vicinity. The patterns of Indian rugs mixed from vines and flower patterns, animal and bird figures and geometric together with calligraphic patterns. Rugs from Akbar`s leadership (1556-1605) applied cotton warp and wool pile and various color scheme had multiple shades of blues, greens, and other colors for a red and peach bottom part. The patterns were a reworked copy of Local style but later revised to Indian tastes.

Indian rugs during Jahangir`s reign (1605-27) were more superior. Materials like silk together with pashmina were used that permitted greater amount of knots to be included in the art works. Patterns of these Indian rugs resembled small paintings. Subtle gradations together with shadings with yarns were themselves artistic. The patterns of these carpets were a depiction of manuscript paintings. The history of Indian rugs show technically refined taste within both design and construction. The carpets had scrolling vines, blooming plants, and more naturalistic animals in pictorial or entire pattern.

During Shahjahan`s leadership (1628-58) your art of Indian rugs experienced reached new heights. Warps and wefts of fine silk yarns incorporated as many as 2, 000 knots per square inch. Silk or pashmina piles gave this carpets a velvety like texture. Yarn shading was as stylish as with Jahangir`s reign. Flowers were still the main elements of design. During this era, the patterns were primarily floral across with at times geometric or even calligraphic trims. Chinese and European patterns also influenced the history of Indian rugs within their own way. Calligraphy influenced the carpet craft precisely as it did the other designs in India. Though like all the crafts, carpet making also saw a downfall with regard to sometime, but the craft sustained inside traditional families.

Mughal Indian rugs -The Indian rugs are believed most technically skillful classical craft. The carpet weavers in the history of India have become artistically and are renowned for their exquisite designs, elegance, captivating colors and workmanship. In 1958 there have been 14 factories with 350 looms together with 80 cottage units with 400 looms. According for a survey in India, there have been about 3500 carpet weavers in 1974. By the end of eighties their count reached about 48000 most people. This remarkable expansion of the carpet industry is mainly due to the programme of massive exercise introduced and sponsored by the All-India Handicraft Board. Under this programme numerous groups of girls have been trained that started a new development in job sector of Kashmir. Another healthy sign of carpet industry`s growth has been its movement from the city of Srinagar to farm and semi-urban areas.

According to the history of Indian rugs, the designs and signs in Kashmir carpets continue to be inspired by Persian together with central Asian rugs as a result of influences of Indo-Asiatic fine art are perceptible. Besides that widely celebrated designs such as Kashan, Kirman, Ardebil, Bukhara, Qum, Ghoum, Tabiz, Hamadan, Senneh, peculiarly Kashmiri designs shows valley`s scenic splendor and some based on shawl patterns are also evolved. It is interesting to notice that the Iranian work of art, the most well referred to Ardebil Mosque Carpet was stated in 1536 AD by your artist Maqsud from Kashan and is now owned by that South Kensington Museum in London that was reproduced in Kashmir with 1902. Kashmiri craftsmen enjoy the remarkable ability to reproduce the most intricate designed carpets. Released that a beautiful Kashmiri carpet once so charmed Maharaja Ranjit Singh that he rolled on it in great joy the entire day.

Kashmir carpet craft has evolved vastly during the middle of the twentieth century, it was felt that the quality now and again was deteriorated. There was need for introduction of quality regulate measures. Side by side provision of adequate facilities for dyeing in the raw material used in the carpets, and drying chambers for the finished products was very necessary; the State Government took some steps to arrange carpet washing and drying out chambers in Srinagar. The need was urgent in the interest of the future and healthy growth of the carpet industry in Indian. This policy has led to both silk carpet and wool carpets export increases already by 1980. Nevertheless, there was an unhealthy feature in history of Indian rugs and that was the industry using `staple silk` (viscose rayon) rather then pure silk. It was and is still sometimes called `A silk`, `A` standing for artificial while it can also give the impression of `A` quality silk.

The history of Indian rugs thus unveils the saga of the artistry of the Indian carpet weavers amidst their colour, pattern and style.


Article Source : http://www.articleseen.com/Article_Tradition of Chinese and Indian rugs_99149.aspx

Author Resource :
The author is a specialist of Chinese rugs and working in S&R carpets a manufacturer of Indian rugs and traditional rugs.

Keywords : Indian rugs, Chinese rugs, traditional rugs, rugs,

Category : Home and Family : Interior Design

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