More than any other craft or art form, the handmade rug has survived the
onslaught of industrialisation and is now in greater demand than ever, and
at The Carpet Cellar one can witness a range of handwoven & handknotted
masterpieces, carefully selected and acquired for their uniqueness and
brilliant draughtmanship for over 3 decades by a single person.
What began as a nomadic craft ages ago, still continues among some tribes
as well as in mechanised factories the world over. However, the importance &
beauty of the antique oriented carpets above all have been understood.
Mr.
Sheel Chandra's private collection at The Carpet Cellar reveals the range of
styles and designs that the words oriental carpet stand for. Representing
the culture of a vast area stretching from the Black Sea eastward to China
including Mongolia, the erstwhile Soviet Union, Tibet, Turkey, Mesopotamia,
Persia, Afghanistan, Baluchistan, Egypt & Morocco and India as well, the
Carpet cellar is the place where you can see the effects of socio-economic
developments affecting the weaving tradition of a region.
Experience the floral motifs and finer weaves of the workshop carpets that
reflected the taste of the courts versus the geometric patterns of the
nomadic tribals depicting unknown heraldic symbols & distinguished by
the different motifs, colour combinations, styles of knotting, warp, weft
etc., Each carpets represents the weaving tradition of a particular tribe or
centre & all of them are handknotted and vegetable dyed.
The style of knotting whether Persian or Turkish and the superior quality
of raw materials used, ensures that the rugs get better with usage. The use
of natural dyes by secret techniques using berries, plants, fruit, bark,
fungi and in some rare pieces - crushed insects allows for colours that not
only stay fast but give a pleasing harmonious effect unequalled by chemical
dyes.
Often borrowed by leading museums from around the world for exhibitions,
these carpets are unique pieces - each in its own frame, with its own
subtlety & complexity. Some carpets represent gardens to remind the user
of the pleasures of paradise, or of spring, while they kept the floor warm
in winter, others depict hunting scenes, floral & animal motifs and
geometrical & lattice patterns. There are still others with verses found
in borders, culled from works of leading poets or composed by unknown
writers for a particular carpet.
Whatever the dreams & vision of the craftmen or the reasons for which
these rugs were woven which range from trade, dowry, prayer, commissioning
by aristocrats or a simple need to cover a tent floor, each piece is most
handsomely designed and conceived.
From the finest classic carpets of the Safavid period in Persia, to the
wonderful varieties and charming textures of the Moghul Indian carpets to
further still the kilims, saddlebags and ornamentation of camels &
horses during ceremonial occasions, The Carpet Cellar is a rare
represendtation of the art of oriental weaving at its best.
We import the finest merino wool from Australia and New Zealand, which are actually used to manufacture suiting and thus possess a silk like sheen. We have engaged the finest weavers from Kashmir and U.P whose families have been engaged in this form of art for generations, to recreate these exquisite pieces. We are thus trying to revive the original Indian patterns to their long lost glory..
To partake a piece of this unique tradition or merely browse through an
overwhelming collection - perhaps the largest personal one of its kind in
India - The Carpet Cellar is now open to all.
