Antique 18th Century Millefleurs Indian Oriental Rugs 8052

Antique Kashmir "Millefleurs" Twill Tapestry, 18th Century - Finely woven Kashmir tapestries of this kind are modeled on the Pashmina wool "Millefleurs" or "thousand flowers" carpets of Mughal India. Although composed as an abstract pattern based on subtle, barely visible concentric and intersecting circles, the floral detail is highly naturalistic and derives from European painting and textiles. The overall format with a kind of pointed arch or niche may derive from prayer rugs. The whole composition is meant to be seen as a delicate tree of life emanating from an amphora-like vase between sprays of palm leaves. The palm leaves sprout in turn from a shallow basin at the very bottom of the design. There is a playful quality in which these barely recognizable forms recede beneath the dazzling detail of the floral surface like the smile of Lewis Carroll's Cheshire Cat.