79249 Late 19th Century Antique Indian Agra Rug, 06'01 x 09'02.
Rooted in the grandeur of late 19th-century Indian court ateliers, this hand-knotted wool antique Agra rug is a rare masterpiece of refined aesthetic splendor and aristocratic symbolism. Commissioned during the era of British colonial patronage yet guided by the enduring vision of Persianate design, this regal carpet draws directly from Mughal garden carpet traditions. At its heart lies an ivory central medallion shaped as a vase-spilling tree of life, elegantly unfurling into floral abundance—an allegorical fountain of paradise, laden with blossoms and wisdom. With each knotted motif, the rug evokes the disciplined harmony of classical Persian gardens, meticulously reinterpreted through the Indian eye for ornamentation and spatial elegance.
The composition is organized along a directional layout, with the tree of life rising vertically from the base, its branches climbing across a midnight navy blue field like tendrils of memory and renewal. Serrated leaves, scrolling vines, and stylized flowerheads bloom rhythmically across the canvas, balanced in their geometry yet soft in silhouette. This refined botanical language, etched in hues of terra cotta, celadon, and dusky rose, conjures a world both mythic and serene—a place where classical symmetry meets poetic imagination. The ivory medallion at center becomes not only the compositional axis, but also a spiritual anchor, reminiscent of courtly gardens where geometry and divinity converge.
Framing this Edenic vision are abrashed terra cotta corner spandrels that stretch and unfurl like autumnal tapestries, bursting with stylized foliage and floral ornament. Within them lie prominent ivory quatrefoils—outlined with jagged blue serrations and nestled within tranquil tan arabesques—that evoke imperial medallions or princely seals. These spandrels, extending like warm arms along the sides of this precious work of art, form an inner architectural scaffold, holding the celestial garden within a noble embrace. The contrast between the deep navy field and the vivid terra cotta side-panels creates a visual symphony—dramatic, balanced, and painterly in its execution.
Encircling the entire composition is a magnificent cartouche-style ivory border, woven with scrolling saz leaves and floral rosettes in blue, green, and garnet red. The border, which echoes the grandeur of 17th-century Safavid court carpets, is flanked with delicate inner and outer meander bands, offering both continuity and grace. This Agra rug is not merely a floor covering—it is a palace fragment, a woven fresco of cultural synthesis and textile genius. In rooms of distinction, it becomes a talisman of elegance, history, and cultivated serenity, radiating the legacy of Mughal refinement through every thread.
- Abrash.
- Hand knotted wool.
- Made in India.
- Measures: 06'01 x 09'02.
- Pile Height: 0.14 of an inch.
- Date: 1880's. Late 19th Century.
