Kashmir Rug
203 cm x 124 cm
Nr. 18422

Floral Kashmir Rug, rusty red with border and Medaillon

Place of origin

The mountainous region of Kashmir in the Himalayas is divided, with one third as a province belonging to Pakistan, while the other two thirds form the union state of " Jammu and Kashmir", belonging to India. The population of the larger state is predominantly Muslim and is striving for independence. Hand knotted rugs come exclusively from the Indian part of Kashmir and are mainly knotted in the provincial capital of Srinagar and vicinity. The silk rugs of Kashmir, which are usually made on a cotton base, are famous.

The colors of cashmere rugs are rather reserved, and the patterns are influenced by traditional Persian designs. This has a long tradition; once the Mughal Emperors (1526-1857) brought Persian rug weavers to their court in India. This is why they are also referred to as the indo-Persian style. According to another legend, the Sultan of Kashmir, who was obliged to pay tribute, had to send his son as a hostage to Timur Lenk (Tamerlan) in Samarkand in 1398. It was here, that the young prince learned the craft of knotting and, after his return to Kashmir, introduced it to knotters of Samarkand.

Patterns

The luxuriant flower motifs of this Kashmir Rug are elegant and varied. The graceful vegetative symbols representing flowers, leaves and branches are artfully intertwined.

The edge of the rug is decorated with an edging (border). The border forms a glorious contrast to the center.

In the middle of the central field of this Kashmir Rug is the symmetrical center, also called medallion. The design of the field is arranged in such a way that it gives the impression that the medallion is floating on the field.

The background of this Kashmir Rug is off white. Furthermore, the color rusty red dominates the overall impression. The border is held in similar colors as the rest of the rug. The dark blue center combines the colors off white and rusty red.

Condition

You are not the first to appreciate this Kashmir Rug. It has had owners before you who have cherished and used it. It was hand knotted about 1980. We have cleaned it thoroughly and restored it lovingly. Therefore it is in very good condition despite its age.

Material

The pile of this Kashmir Rug has been hand-knotted from high-quality virgin wool. Individual pattern details were also highlighted with the sheen of mercerized cotton.
Virgin wool is obtained from the shearing of live sheep. Virgin wool is a sustainable natural raw material with a number of impressive properties; due to the wool's natural fat content, the surface repels water droplets and is thus naturally protected against dirt. Wool also offers excellent thermal insulation, has a regulating effect on indoor climate and muffles sound.
Cotton is made up of shiny fibers that are filled with cell sap. When this dries after harvesting, the surface of the fibre warps and loses its shine because of the resulting refraction of light. In the middle of the 19th century, John Mercer invented the mercerization process. In the course of mercerization, cotton is given a new, higher quality fiber structure by being subjected to tensile stress in cold concentrated caustic soda solution. Mercerized cotton has shortened fibers with a round cross-section. The finished fabric does not shrink and has a high dimensional stability. Due to the changed refraction of light, it gains a silky sheen. Also, mercerized cotton absorbs color more easily and is much more tear-resistant than the original material. Since mercerization is complex and expensive, only high-quality cotton fibers undergo this refinement. Because of the silky sheen of the yarn, mercerized cotton is often referred to as "artificial silk", just like viscose. However, the colloquial term "artificial silk" is not permitted under the Textile Labelling Act TKG. The weft and warp threads of this Kashmir Rug are made of cotton. This versatile material is tear-resistant and stretchable and, therefore, ideal for a durable backing fabric.