Antique 17th Century Mughal Oriental Rugs 8036

Mughal (Mogul) Carpet Fragment, Lahore, India, 17th Century A superb example of the classic carpet weaving in Northern India under the great Mughal Dynasty, this fragment consists of shrubs or floral sprays simply juxtaposed across a magenta-red ground. Originally the carpet would have been much larger, with all the flowers oriented vertically and symmetrically. The fragment now combines these shrubs in different directions, imparting a new, dynamic quality to the composition. The drawing of the flowers is highly naturalistic and probably reflects the influence of Dutch flower painting and botanical drawing, which was highly prized in the Mughal court. The green-ground border with its carnation vinescroll nicely complements the red-ground field. The rich palette with the contrasting effect of red versus different shades of green, gold, and white, is typical of such carpets from Lahore or Kashmir.