This splendid carpet was produced in Agra, northern India, in the 19th century, following the celebrated design of Tabriz — a dialogue between two great weaving capitals. Time has given it a patina of rare beauty: the field, in softly faded aubergine, is traversed by delicate flowering vines, while generous borders in golden sand carry naturalistic sprays of blossoms. Agra rugs of this period rival their Persian models in quality, yet speak with an unmistakable Indian accent — a gentler palette, a more languid rhythm. The result is a piece of quiet aristocracy, whose muted golds and plums sit as naturally in a contemporary interior as they did in the colonial residences for which they were woven.
Agra