Shalimar rugs and their weaving originated in Agra, home of the magnificent Taj Mahal. It is here that the Mogul ruler Akbar The Great brought with him a wealth of art, including the art of traditional rug weaving in the 16th century. In order to establish a traditional rug weaving industry in India, he brought Persian weavers with him in 1580 A.D., and thus was borne a new and vibrant industry. Traditional rug weaving during Akbar’s reign used cotton foundations and wool pile with a color palette of primarily blues and greens on a red base. The designs were interpretations of Persian patterns, but over time Shalimar rugs and their weaving took on a style of its own. The weavers of Shalimar rugs more often work from memory than from a pattern. This spontaneity in creation makes each piece totally original. The wool used in Shalimar rugs is hand spun and woven from a blend of choice international wools using the senneh double knot at a density of approximately 80 KPSI (knots per square inch). Shalimar rugs are washed and thoroughly sun dried.
Typically the designs on Shalimar rugs are Persian and Mughal influenced and quite varied, featuring vines and floral patterns, animal and bird figures, and geometric and calligraphic patterns. All-over layouts with bold floral borders are particularly striking. Shalimar rugs typically uses modern color palettes that blend beautifully in highly stylized homes. Natural vegetable dyes are used to create warm earth tones, terra cotta, indigo, and black.
The foundation of Shalimar rugs are made of a fine count cotton yarn for stability and durability, while the pile is fine quality wool. Although available in a wide range of sizes, the majority of these rugs are mid-size to larger. The sophisticated elegance of Shalimar rugs is equally at home with modern furniture as with antiques and will create harmony with any environment.
