Lot Essay
Defined by distinct coloring, technique and design, the present rug comes from an intriguing group of rugs only recently discovered in Kyoto, Japan. Woven on a cotton foundation in the Deccan, India, it is presumed that they arrived in Japan with the Dutch traders who had concessions starting in the 17th century. Similar looking rugs also appear in Dutch paintings of the late 17th and early 18th centuries (D. Walker, Flowers Underfoot, New York, 1997, pp. 136-146). The lattice design is Mughal in origin, yet these Deccani examples are more stiffly drawn and coarser in weave. The pre-dominant red and orange hues are also typical of this group as is a larger inner than outer border. For an example with a comparable field design please see Christie's London, 14 October 1999, lot 147.