Woven in Time: The Rich History of India's Artisan Rugs
India's artisan rug-making history is about much more than a craft. It's a centuries-old art form that is deeply woven into the country's economic and cultural fabric.
Rich Tradition
While some of Natural Rug Co.'s natural fiber rugs are handmade in China (bamboo particularly), and Turkey, a majority are created by artisans in India, and each carries a story of heritage, age-old techniques, and skill passed down through generations of master weavers.
From as far back as the 1500s in the royal courts of the Mughal Empire, the rhythm of the loom is like a heartbeat of tradition in villages across India.
Regional Specialties
The art of rug-making flourished int the 16th century, when an Mughal emperor invited skilled Persian artisans to settle in India, and they introduced their weaving techniques and blended them with India's rich textile traditions.
Over time, distinctive rug-making regions formed, each with it's own weaving techniques and aesthetics. Kashmir became known for delicate silk rugs with intricate motifs, Jaipur for hand-knotted wool rugs with Persian inspired patterns, Bhadoni and Mirzapur for high-quality hand-knotted and -tufted rugs, and Panipat for more casual but equally artful flatweave dhurries. These regions still craft rugs using their distinctive weaving traditions today.
Premium Craftsmanship
Traditional handmade rugs from India are painstakingly crafted. often taking months to complete. A large hand-knotted rug, for example, may feature more than a million knots.
The result is something that is much more than just a rug to protect the floor beneath, but rather a true, one-of-kind work of art. It represents history, tradition, artistry and lasting beauty.