THESE SIX FRAGMENTS COME FROM ONE OF THE WELL-KNOWN MUGHAL ANIMAL AND PALMETTE CARPETS SUCH AS THE WIDENER ANIMAL CARPET (BRAND, M. AND LOWRY, G.D.: AKBAR'S INDIA: ART FROM THE MUGHAL CITY OF VICTORY, NEW YORK, 1985, NO.73). THIS EXHIBITION CATALOGUE LISTS THE MOST IMPORTANT OTHER EXAMPLES (PP.109-111). NOW USUALLY DATED TO THE REIGN OF AKBAR, THESE RUGS WERE OBVIOUSLY STILL POPULAR IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CENTURY. A MINIATURE IN THE AUSTRIAN NATIONAL LIBRARY OF THIS LATTER DATE SHOWS PRINCE MURAD STANDING ON A PAIR OF SUCH CARPETS (DUDA, D.: DIE ISLAMISCHE HANDSCHRIFTEN DER ÖSTERREICHISCHEN NATIONALBIBIOTHEK, VIENNA, 1983, PL.482). MANY ANIMALS ARE IDENTICAL TO THOSE FOUND HERE, SUCH AS THE SPOTTED LEOPARD AND THE LEAPING DEER LOOKING OVER ITS SHOULDER.

THE PRESENT FRAGMENTS HAVE CONSIDERABLE WEFTING ADJUSTMENTS THROUGHOUT TO KEEP THE LINES OF KNOTS STRAIGHT. THIS IS A FEATURE NOTICEABLE IN OTHER EARLY MUGHAL RUGS INCLUDING THE WAQ-WAQ CARPET (SEE A FRAGMENT SOLD IN THESE ROOMS 20 OCTOBER 1994, LOT 569)