Indian carpet encyclopaedia for your home
Posted by MOHIT BHATNAGAR

Carpets are a great addition to your homes especially for amping up the room on a budget. India as it is one of the leading countries in textiles, has a brilliant collection of all types of carpet ranging from cotton, silk, satin, woollen tufts and many more.
The carpets are very luxurious and sophisticated. Most of these carpets are handwoven intricately and therefore each is unique in its own way.

Indian cashmere carpets, for example, which is knotted from high-quality natural silk and is at the same time much more affordable than Persian silk carpets, are enjoying growing popularity. Some Chinese designs can also be found in Indian knotting. For example, the Indian Gabbeh is based on the design of the well-known Gabbeh-rugs from Iran. Even if the carpet production in India has flattened out again in the meantime, Agra or Amritsar are still well-known places for carpet knotting in the north of the country.
Carpet Industry is one of the oldest industries of India and had an ancient heritage of carpet weaving and craftsmanship. Hand made rugs from India are woven in different varieties, which are influenced by the cultures, lifestyles and creative skills of various countries, eras and civilisations.
There are a variety of carpet types that you can incorporate in your homes and let the sophistication prevail over your interiors:
INDO-PERSIAN CARPETS AND RUGS

The name "Indo-Persian" reflects a lack of consensus among scholars, who still argue about where in India or Iran such carpets were made. Because the structure and colour of this carpet are typical of Persian rather than Indian rugs. Its centralized design is exceptionally harmonious and elegant. The wonderfully curated intricate designs are particularly unique to it. They provide brilliant colour and a layer of sophistication to the interiors. The design source is primarily flowers, plants, culture, folklore, and royal lifestyles. Weaving Persian carpets is a complex laborious process. A single carpet can take from a few weeks up to a year to complete, depending on the design fineness of knots, quality and size.
SILK CARPETS

Composed of 80 per cent silk and 20 per cent cotton yarn, these hand-knotted carpets usually originate from Kashmir. There are known for their softness and fine craftsmanship. One finds them decorated with traditional motifs or patterns inspired by nature. They are among the most expensive rugs However, the luxurious look they bring to a room is undeniable.
Silk is material that brings an informed and particular sense of luxury into the space. These carpets due to their material need regular cleaning and care. They have a persona of exorbitance therefore will look best in common areas with larger space. Silk carpets are very rich, traditional, aristocratic, and yet highly defined in terms of designs. The more the number of knots per square inch, the greater is their value and durability. Known to last for generations they hold their value and are uniquely produced all over Kashmir in India.
HAND TUFTED CARPETS

Hand tufting is the most common method of manufacturing rugs and carpets today for reasons of design, speed, and cost. Created with the use of handheld tufting tools, hand-tufted carpets have a reputation for being sturdy and wearing well over a period of time. Several popular styles of these rugs make use of comfortable piles created by the tufting process. The base material used to produce stuffed rugs is a woven cloth, usually canvas that provides a strong base and makes them much more economical than hand-knotted carpets. Major centres for tufted carpet production in India are Panipat and Bhadohi.
KILIM CARPETS

Kilim is more of a technique that is used to make these extremely unique and textiles finished carpets. Comes in brilliant and vibrant shades, the technique utilises skills by tightly interweaving the warp and weft strands of the weave to create a flat surface with no pile. Most kilim weaces are ‘weft-facing’, i.e., the horizontal weft strands are pulled tightly download so that they hide the vertical warp strands. Made from wool or cotton, Kilims have become increasingly collectable in recent years, with quality pieces commanding high prices. These rugs are mostly used for home decor or as prayer rugs. In India, they are prominently produced in Mirzapur, Rajasthan and Panipat.
WOOLEN DHURRIES

These rugs are elegant and economical. They are much cheaper than hand-knotted carpets but can add beauty to any room with their vibrant colours and beautiful patterns. If intermixed with silk then these exotic rugs a combination of silk and wood is used to create magnificent designs. They are popular amongst discerning buyers as they are richer than wool and more cost-efficient than pure silk rugs. These add depth and cosiness to the place and add warmth to the otherwise hardy floors. It is also very durable and can be incorporated in high traffic areas of the house and even on the outskirts.
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