North India, c. 885 x 778 cm, end of the 19th century, carpets from Agra were renowned for their unrivalled excellence as early as 1600. During the reign of the Mogul Dynasty, this town was one of the most important production centres of hand-knotted carpets in India. From 1877 until its independence in 1947, India was under British colonial rule. Therefore, it is not surprising that old and antique Indian carpets were exported to Britain but remained virtually unknown at our latitudes. Around 1880, prisoners were used for the production of carpets in India (‘convict carpets’), flooding the market with cheap coarse carpets.
The imitation of local carpet producers threatened by competition ultimately stifled the Indian carpet market within a few years. The present piece, however, is an exquisite workshop carpet of striking size and may well have been created as a commissioned work for an important function room. The red background features and Indo-Persian all-over repeat with floral pattern and cloud bands, surrounded by a blue-green border frame in contrasting colour. Extremely deep pile material of the highest quality. The carpet shows no significant signs of wear and is in superb condition. On the left side, minimal blue discolouration as well as minor edge damage. (MA)