77150 Late 19th Century Antique Indian Agra Rug, 15'02 x 24'04.
The Celestial Court: An Antique Indian Agra Masterpiece of Imperial Splendor
Commanding in scale and celestial in symbolism, this hand-knotted wool antique Indian Agra rug stands as a monumental work of woven art—an homage to both Persian classicism and Mughal majesty. Woven in the late 19th century during the artistic zenith of British India, this extraordinary carpet unites the refinement of Persian Safavid design with the spiritual grandeur of Eastern mythology. Spanning over fifteen by twenty-four feet, its vast field unfolds like a royal manuscript—each motif, hue, and contour a tribute to divine order and regal harmony. This is not simply a rug, but a palatial inheritance: a rarefied artifact created for spaces of influence and grace.
At the heart of this textile universe, a lozenge lattice of cusped cartouches forms an intricate architectural framework, each medallion an emblem of balance and continuity. Within this celestial grid, dragons coil and phoenixes rise—ancient symbols of power and renewal, their eternal dance representing the yin and yang of cosmic unity. Interwoven among them are scrolling cloudbands, floral sprays, and feathered tendrils—motifs that whisper of the heavens, of empires lost and beauty eternal. The composition’s abrashed gold field, glowing like parchment gilded by time, reveals subtle tonal shifts that breathe depth and soul into the design, transforming the carpet into a living landscape of color and light.
The border, stately and precise, acts as both frame and finale—a procession of cartouche panels rendered in jewel tones of lapis, coral, saffron, and oxidized copper. These bands of intricate arabesques echo the rhythm of the field, their symmetry invoking the geometry of Mughal architecture. Here, color serves not merely as decoration but as expression—each hue selected to evoke spiritual resonance and visual equilibrium. The interplay of indigo and rose, gold and sable, mirrors the opulent restraint found in the world’s great courtly traditions—from Isfahan to Agra, from palace corridors to imperial pavilions.
To encounter this antique Indian Agra rug is to step into the continuum of history—a world where art was devotion and craftsmanship, a form of reverence. Its scale alone suggests it was commissioned for a hall of consequence, perhaps a durbar or a princely residence, where its presence would command both awe and admiration. For the modern connoisseur, it is a statement of cultivated taste and heritage—a testament to the enduring dialogue between East and West, mythology and mastery. Beyond rarity, beyond opulence, it represents something far greater: the quiet majesty of civilization’s finest art form, preserved in wool, pattern, and eternal symmetry.
- Abrash. Desirable Age Wear.
- Hand-knotted wool.
- Made in India.
- Hotel Lobby Size Carpet 15 x 24 Rug.
- Measures: 15'02 x 24'04.
- Date: 1880s. Late 19th Century.
