INDIA ON WHEELS - A trip for pleasure!: Carpet

Showing posts with label Carpet. Show all posts

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Shopping In India : Carpets - 3

Guys, before moving to Shopping In India, It is my responsibility to give you the information about the products of India as much as possible. So one can familiar with the product and make him/her self satisfied after purchasing. Just take a look on following information based on the best product of India "Carpet".

Here I am going to placed number of series of each products like in previous post. Todays subject is weaving carpets. For your more information I have added slide show for the same.

Carpets of silk and cotton have been popular exports dating back centuries. Even today, plush silk carpets, perfected under Mughal design sensibilities, are great take-aways. Fine knotted cotton durries as well as sturdy rugs and Islamic prayer rugs or kilims from Rajasthan are good value for money.

Light-weight durries (floor coverings) are available in numerous styles. The states of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan (woollen durries), Uttar Pradesh (geometrical patterns) and Tamil Nadu (stylized patterns) are important weaving centres.

Pile carpets were introduced from Iran to Kashmir in the 15th century. Here carpet making follows the shawl-weaving tradition, its designs are based on Persian and central Asian styles. Kashmir is also known for other types of floor coverings, known as the Namdas, Hook rugs and Gabbas. Namdas are made of felted wool and cotton and are embroidered with woolen chain stitches. The hook rug is made with chain stitch embroidery worked with a hook called ahri. A thick jute cloth is embroidered fully so that the base material is not visible. The Gabba is an appliqué done on worn-out woollen blankets.

Carpets produced in Agra and Amritsar have fine quality patterns on a red, ivory, green and black background. Jaipur in Rajasthan produces quality carpets, which vary from 80 knots to 120 knots per square inch. Most of them have geometrical patterns. Mirzapur and Bhadoi also make quality carpet varieties. Andhra Pradesh produces geometrical patterend carptes of quality of around 30 to 60 knots per square inch.

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Indian Art and Craft : Carpets from Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan - 16

Pile carpets were probably introduced into India from Iran. During the Mughal period, this craft flourished in Agra, Delhi and Lahore. Kashmir developed its carpet industry in the 15th century AD. Here carpet making closely follows the shawl-weaving tradition with designs based on Persian and Central Asian styles.

The important centers of carpet weaving in India are Srinagar in Kashmir, Jaipur in Rajsthan, Amritsar in Punjab, Mirzapur and Agra in Uttar Pradesh and Warangal and Elluru in Andhra Pradesh. Amritsar, a late entrant, developed its industry only at the start of the 19th century. It has a tradition of weaving fine quality rugs with geometrical patterns called Mouri. Jaipur Mirzapur and Bhadoi produce quality carpets, which vary form 80 knots to 120 knots per square inch. In Andhra Pradesh, geometrical patterned carpets of quality of around 30 to 60 knots per inch are mostly meant for export.

A variety of floor coverings are used in Indian homes. The durree is a cotton-woven thick fabric meant for spreading on the floor. Weaving of a durree is a common sight in most Indian villages. The flat woven rugs can be found all over India. Some areas only produce cotton durries, but those in Jodhpur, Rajasthan include cotton, wool and silk. The geometric designs are produced by tapestry technique which is a slow process using separate bobbins or butterflies for each colour across the width interlocking with the adjacent coloured yarn. The weavers sit cross-legged on the side of the loom, sometimes with a weaver on each side. In the states of Punjab and Haryana, the Jat women weave durrees for their personal use. Jaisalmer and Barmer in Rajasthan produce woollen durries. Uttar Pradesh is an important commercial weaving centre for durrees. Other centres for weaving include Navalgund in Karnataka and Salem in Tamil Nadu. The Navalgund durrees are also known as Jamkhans. Richly patterned in rust, yellow, green and black, they depict stylized parrots and peacocks. The Salem durrees, woven in silk and cotton are prepared in brilliant colours with a central pattern of lotus and borders with flowing floral patterns. Warangal near Hyderabad is known for the Bandha or Ikat durrees. Kashmir is known for Namdas, Hook rugs and Gabbas. Namdas are made of felted wool and cotton and are embroidered with woollen chain stitches. The hook rug is made with a hook called ahri. A thick jute cloth is used and then it is embroiedered worked with a hook called ahri. A thick jute cloth is used and then it is embroidered fully so that the base material is not visible. The Gabba is a kind of an applique work done on worn out woollen blankets.

Indian Art and Craft : Carpets and Textiles of India (Indian History of Carpets) - 15

Travelling through India can be a sartorial adventure. Each region has an abundance of traditional outfits. The colors and the weaves are unique in each state and the ornamentation or printing, mirrors the images of the region. The peacock motifs of Lucknow, the chinar leaf of Kashmir, the royal scenes of Kanchipuram and the checks and stripes of Maharashtra, all add to make a collage rich and vibrant in color, design and fabric.

Traditional Indian textiles have romantic origins that date back several centuries. References to weaving proliferate right from the Vedas. With the birth of weaving, associated accessories like needle work and embroidery followed. The artisans from each region formed their own styles, drawing inspiration from nature.

No other land enjoys such a profusion of creative energies for the production of textiles. Styles of weaving and the choice of textiles are dependent on the topography of the region and the influences of the various cultures prevalent.

India's legendary textiles have remained unchanged in their timelessness. Carpets, silks and cottons were fabled export treasures when India was a maritime superpower in ancient times. Plush silk carpets, honed under Mughal design sensibilities, have graced many royal homes. Fine knotted cotton durries as well as sturdy rugs and Islamic prayer rugs or kilims from Rajasthan are woven even today.

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Shopping In India : Carpets - 3

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Indian Art and Craft : Carpets from Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan - 16

Indian Art and Craft : Carpets and Textiles of India (Indian History of Carpets) - 15

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