Rajasthan Rugs

Rajasthan is an Indian state. It literary means ‘the land of Rajas’ or the land of kings. Rajasthan is the largest Indian state by area and the seventh largest by population.

Rajasthan is on India’s northwestern side, where it comprises most of the wide and inhospitable Thar Desert (also known as the Great Indian Desert) and shares a border with the Pakistani provinces of Punjab to the northwest and Sindh to the west, along the Sutlej-Indus River valley.

Rajasthan is the heart of ancient Indian civilizations. Parts of what is now Rajasthan were partly part of the Vedic Civilization and the Indus Valley Civilization. Kalibangan, in Hanumangarh district, was a major provincial capital of the Indus Valley Civilization.

Rajasthan have been a major weaving center during last centuries. Bikaner and Ajmer, two weaving centers of Rajasthan, used to be a source for fine antique rugs. Jaipur, the capital city of Rajasthan, too, is a weaving center as well as a gathering market for the province’ production.
Technical aspects and the structure of Rajasthan Rugs

Antique Bikaner and Ajmer pieces are considered the finest among Indian rugs. Contemporary Rajasthan knot densities are between 144 and 225 knots per square inch. These are single-wefted and have cotton foundation. Pile is woolen. Knots are asymmetric (Persian). Both rug and carpet sizes are common.



Dyeing and painting of Rajasthan Rugs

Either red, beige or dark blue are dominant on Rajasthan palette. Beige and midnight blue make a popular combination used mostly for Isfahan and Kashan all-over designs. Red and camel (or yellow) make another popular combination. Cream or ivory is also serve instead of beige. Light green and light blue may dominate some pieces.


Designs and patterns of Rajasthan Rugs

Persian city-style designs are traditionally copied here. These include chiefly Herat, Isfahan, Kashan and Kerman designs. Terms like ‘Indo-Kerman’ are used here to describe the designs, suggesting, for example, a Kerman design woven in India.

Coping Persian designs in Rajasthan started in the late 16th century under the command of Raja Man Singh (1550 – 1614). He was the Kachwaha Raja of Amer, a state later known as Jaipur in Rajputana. He was a trusted general of the Mughal emperor Akbar, who included him among the Navaratnas, or the nine (nava) gems (ratna) of the royal court of Akbar.


Raja Man Singh bring lots of Persian rug artisans (including designers, weavers and master dyers), mostly from eastern parts of the Persian Empire, to Rajasthan.


