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Lot Essay
The inscription cartouches read: sahib murtaza a ‘Ali [oghli] khan ’The owner, Murtaza ‘Ali [Oghli] Khan'
sahib [mur]taza ‘ali khan [shaqa’i] 1314, ‘The owner, [Mur]taza ‘Ali Khan [Shaqa’i] 1314 (1896-7)’
By the beginning of the 19th century much of the Indian carpet industry had become almost obsolete but the inclusion of several Indian pile carpets in London’s Great Exhibition of 1851 sparked its revival. Private workshops sprang up across the country and by 1862 the British Imperial government had set up a number of jail workshops in the Punjab. The weavers referred to earlier Mughal and Safavid palmette designs for inspiration as well as other more Persianate designs such as the all over 'Herati' pattern on the present carpet.
The two cartouches in the upper part of each side border are an unusual feature of this Agra carpet, providing both its date and owner. The elegant ivory palette chosen here is also found on Agra carpets of Mughal shrub design such as a an example that sold in these Rooms, 25 June 2020, lot 187, see also lot 181 in the present sale.
sahib [mur]taza ‘ali khan [shaqa’i] 1314, ‘The owner, [Mur]taza ‘Ali Khan [Shaqa’i] 1314 (1896-7)’
By the beginning of the 19th century much of the Indian carpet industry had become almost obsolete but the inclusion of several Indian pile carpets in London’s Great Exhibition of 1851 sparked its revival. Private workshops sprang up across the country and by 1862 the British Imperial government had set up a number of jail workshops in the Punjab. The weavers referred to earlier Mughal and Safavid palmette designs for inspiration as well as other more Persianate designs such as the all over 'Herati' pattern on the present carpet.
The two cartouches in the upper part of each side border are an unusual feature of this Agra carpet, providing both its date and owner. The elegant ivory palette chosen here is also found on Agra carpets of Mughal shrub design such as a an example that sold in these Rooms, 25 June 2020, lot 187, see also lot 181 in the present sale.