Mirzapur Rug
| Mirzapur Rug | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Name | Agra Rug |
| Original name | فرش میرزاپور، قالی میرزاپور |
| Alternative name(s) | Mirzapur Carpet |
| Origin |  India |
| Technical information | |
Mirzapur Rug or Mirzapur Carpet is one of the eastern rugs that woven in India.
A city and the major carpet production center of Uttar Pradesh in northeastern India. Finely woven rugs were produced in Mirzapur in the nineteenth century. Since about 1900, however, Mirzapur has been the source of a very large volume of coarsely woven rugs. Currently Persian, Chinese, and Aubusson designs are used, and often the rugs are sculptured. The asymmetric knot is used with a cotton foundation.[1]
History
Mirzapur is a city located in northern India and is named after the last ruler, Sheikh Mirza, who was overthrown during British rule. Mirzapur is a trade center famous for its cotton industry. Carpet production there dates to the Mughal ruling period. Mirzapur carpets are known in the antique trade from the British Raj era (1858-1947). Under the Raj, foreign companies entered the Mirzapur market and established looms to weave carpets for the international trade. It should also be noted that during this period Mirzapur prisons set up looms for carpet weaving, mostly for purposes of foreign export.
Mirzapur carpets almost always have a cotton foundation and a wool pile. The Persian (asymmetric) knot was always employed. The designs were traditional Persian styles similar to Farahan, Kerman, Tabriz, and other classic patterns. The field and border colors were traditional Persian reds, ivory, and dark blue. A variety of colors were incorporated for the design elements, guard borders, and outlines, as well.
The sizes range from small room formats to dining room dimensions. By the early twentieth century, Mirzapur manufacturers were mostly producing carpets in a low-quality, coarse grade for the Western market.[2]
References
Bibliography
- Abraham Levi Moheban. 2015. The Encyclopedia of Antique Carpets: Twenty-Five Centuries of Weaving. NewYork: Princeton Architectural Press.
- Peter F. Stone. 2013. Oriental Rugs: An Illustrated Lexicon of Motifs, Materials, and Origins. North Clarendon: Tuttle