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Lot Essay
Pictorial dhurries such as the peacock design here are considered to be the pinnacle of the art of dhurrie weaving. To successfully create the illusion of smooth curves in the animal motifs required a fine weave executed by weavers of superior skill and experience (Ahuja, 1999, p.123).
The unusual design of this dhurrie is particularly close to another of peacock design in the T.C. Goel/Samurai Collection and one belonging to the royal family of Varanasi (Ahuja, 1999, pp.124-125 and Chaldecott, 2003, p.62, no.88). The rich, red ground similarly displays a well-balanced but lively tree with peacocks, peahens and parrots, with a parade of peacocks within the border. These dhurries are said to have been woven in the Ratnagiri Jail in the Northern Deccan and were most likely related to a late Mughal carpet with a bird composition in the Museum fur Angewandte Kunst, Vienna, in turn inspired by Deccani paintings of a similar design (Chaldecott, 2003, pp.62-63, nos.88-91). Imagery of the peacock is prevalent in Indian myths, arts and textiles. The motif has inspired numerous interpretations as a symbol of grace, beauty and pride, and is often associated with deities (HALI, 2020, p.27; Chaldecott, 2003, p.65).
The unusual design of this dhurrie is particularly close to another of peacock design in the T.C. Goel/Samurai Collection and one belonging to the royal family of Varanasi (Ahuja, 1999, pp.124-125 and Chaldecott, 2003, p.62, no.88). The rich, red ground similarly displays a well-balanced but lively tree with peacocks, peahens and parrots, with a parade of peacocks within the border. These dhurries are said to have been woven in the Ratnagiri Jail in the Northern Deccan and were most likely related to a late Mughal carpet with a bird composition in the Museum fur Angewandte Kunst, Vienna, in turn inspired by Deccani paintings of a similar design (Chaldecott, 2003, pp.62-63, nos.88-91). Imagery of the peacock is prevalent in Indian myths, arts and textiles. The motif has inspired numerous interpretations as a symbol of grace, beauty and pride, and is often associated with deities (HALI, 2020, p.27; Chaldecott, 2003, p.65).