The History of Indian Rugs & Carpets

Indian history is rich in culture and legacy, and it is larger-than-life. Carpets and rugs have long been a part of Indian culture. The carpet industry is one of India’s oldest industries, with a long history of carpet weaving and work man ship. Early woven mats and floor coverings have been referenced in mediaeval literature, indicating that carpet weaving in India dates back to around 500 B.C. Wool, cotton, jute, bamboo, and grass were commonly used to make these carpets.

16TH CENTURY:-

In more recent history, in the 16th century, the Great Mughal Emperor Akbar ruled over India, and when he was dissatisfied with the lack of luxuries – and missing his Persian rugs& carpets – he summoned his Persian carpet weavers to join him. These weavers rapidly established workshops and collaborated with the locals. The industry prospered, and India’s carpet weaving industry was formed. Rugs, Carpets and Durries of many kinds began to appear, the most opulent of which were woven of cashmere and embellished with pricey gold thread and jewels. Animals and ornamental blooms were used later in the century.

17TH CENTURY:-

The TajMahal was erected by Shah Jahan, an Indian king in the 17th century who was also a prominent role in India’s carpet business. During this time, Indian rug patterns and styles grew in popularity, and landscapes and animals began to appear prominently alongside Persian designs.Fine silks were employed to produce carpets during this time, with the most complicated rugs having 2,000 unique knots per square inch. It could take up to 15 years to produce these rugs. Indian rugs and carpets were known for their quality, detailing, and design during this time and in subsequent centuries. They were widely distributed around the world and were a typical sight in mansions and palaces.

19TH CENTURY:-

Unfortunately, the quality of Indian weaving marvels declined dramatically during the nineteenth century. The manufacturing gradually fell, and only a few locations, such as Srinagar, Amritsar, and Agra, maintained outstanding artistry. What is the explanation for this? Mughal styles have become so common that they can now be found in Western marketplaces. As a result of mass production and synthetic materials, imitations of Indian rug patterns began to flood European retailers. Indian carpet manufacture has just begun to rebound since the country’s reunification in 1947. Despite the fact that the majority of the weavers relocated to Pakistan, India was able to train a large number of new crafts people. Large groups of women were trained as part of the programme, allowing the market to be revitalized. Indian oriental rugs& carpets are still among the highest quality and most valuable today. However, it is their magical, inventive, and genuinely artistic nature that enchants the most.

HISTORY OF JAIL CARPET WEAVING INDUSTRY IN 19TH CENTURY–

During the late 1800s, the jail carpet weaving industry was very popular in India. Colonial administrators and prison officials promoted it because they needed constructive and useful (even lucrative) inmate “activities.” By this time, and far into the twentieth century, English corporations had monopolized most of India’s massive carpet industry. Jail rugs and other forms of convict manufacturing served realistic economic aims, such as raising funds for the facility, teaching convicts new skills, and increasing India’s earning capacity. Furthermore, because of India’s low labour costs, the British were able to purchase handmade, high-quality rugs at lower prices.

The Punjab Colonial Government regarded the jail rug industry as a success in a variety of ways. Carpet weaving was used as a means of self-discipline and to fund the prison through the sale of its own products. Though certain factories specialized in low-cost, industrial carpets, the majority of the manufacturing was devoted to high-end rugs and even luxury carpets. Carpet & Durries weaving and knotting were favored by jail officials as a method of inmate discipline since they were both repetitive and tedious hobbies. The industry was created to discipline and reform inmates while also providing them with marketable skills and generating revenue for the institution. The jail rugs’ financial success seemed to confirm British ideas, and officials favored prison industries to art schools, emphasizing the fact that attendance and discipline were required.

During the mid-nineteenth century, India’s industry was in serious decline. This is mostly due to the impact of international exhibitions. Jail rugs have been shown in foreign and local exhibitions, as well as in Indian museums, since the 1850s, and are frequently displayed in a separate category. During the mid-nineteenth century, India’s economy was in serious decline. The impact of international exhibitions is largely responsible for this. Jail rugs have been exhibited in international and domestic exhibitions, as well as in Indian museums, since the 1850s, and are frequently displayed in a separate category.

The Indian Jail rugs had extraordinary weaving quality since they were made from the finest pure wool. The Agra Jail, near the TajMahal, was the most famous of the weaving hubs, and it was there that Queen Victoria received a large carpet when she became Empress of India. A jail rug made by a nineteenth-century convict can now sell for hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Despite the fact that foreign occupation and forced labour have tainted the history of Indian rug weaving, modern rug weavers continue to produce magnificent hand-woven carpets in traditional designs. AzaraHome is a young start up that is into promoting the centuries old art and the artisans keeping the culture alive.

Today the art lovers have the luxury to buy carpets and rugs online. You even have the option to choose from handmade & machine made rugs in India at one of the fastest growing & the best online store for durries, rugs & carpets. AzaraHome also delivers handloom rugs and carpets in India without any additional cost. You may also refer our online store for top handmade rugs in India at a very competitive pricing. So if you are looking for best floor carpet – AzaraHome is the only reliable name we can suggest.