A gorgeous antique large Indian Amritsar rug with beautiful floral patterns, Country of Origin / Rug Type: Indian Rugs, Circa date: 1900 – This delicate Amritsar carpet takes its inspiration from the famous carpets of neighboring Persia, but weavers transformed the traditional designs into a unique piece. The carpet was created around the turn of the century and uses soft colors to create the essence of time and age.
Amritsar was a latecomer to carpet weaving. Located in northwestern India, near Kashmir, this city did not develop its own style of carpets until the early 1800s and was heavily influenced by colonial rule in the designs. Carpets of the western and southern regions were established hundreds of years prior and were heavily influenced by the preferences of the Mughal emperors. The Mughals tended to prefer the aesthetics and designs of the Persian weavers.
Amritsar weavers made a conscious decision to design carpets that were based on European and Western design styles due to an explosion in interest during the 19th century. Amritsar based their designs on Western tastes to create a style that is unique, and that is considered high quality. They have a soft feel and a design that is easily recognizable.
In this delicate Indian carpet, the Persian influence is evident in the central medallion design, pendants, and formal borders. Only this carpet is easily distinguished from more traditional Persian designs by its use of light, delicate colors. Many of the designs are barely visible against the background.
The design of the carpet has the main shapes of the traditional Persian design, but it is not connected by vines and stems as you would expect to find on a Persian carpet or those from other parts of India that show a heavier Persian influence. This carpet used the elements of a Persian carpet, but it does so in a way that gives it an aged appearance.
The designer of this antique carpet mimicked the way carpets age over time. The artist captured the way the colors fade and how the designs become visible only in outline. This is a clever design that was more than likely influenced by a desire for older, antique-looking carpets in the western market. This piece is in excellent condition and would add an aged and timeless element to the room.