Agra – China

Woven in China in the 1940s, this palatial carpet pays homage to the celebrated Agra designs of northern India, reinterpreted with remarkable finesse. The field, in a tone of warm gold, is given over to an exuberant floral design that spreads without interruption: grand palmettes and lotus blossoms in deep indigo alternate with serrated foliage, flowering vases and slender sinuous vines, dotted with ivory, soft rose and jade green in a continuous, minutely interlaced pattern. Around it, a broad border of deep indigo — adorned with large floral motifs in soft rose, ivory and jade green, joined by flowering vines of light, elegant movement — envelops the composition. Two guard bands in champagne tones, graced with delicate flowers and scrolling curves, frame the whole and lead the eye harmoniously toward the centre. The interplay of gold, indigo, rose and green creates a serene, balanced palette, characteristic of the Agra carpets that once adorned palaces and grand residences. With its monumental dimensions and gently aged patina, this piece brings to the contemporary interior the elegance of two great traditions: Indian in its design, Chinese in its execution.